Umbra Lab is eyeing Q4 for launch of two earth exploration satellite service microsatellites into low earth orbit. In an FCC Space Bureau application Thursday, Umbra said the pair would have the same RF and orbital characteristics as the eight previously granted licenses. The eighth was launched in November, it said.

The FCC's denial of reconsideration of its 2020 orbital debris order is effective Thursday, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. The commissioners approved the orbital debris reconsideration order 5-0 in January (see 2401250064). The order rejected three petitions seeking reconsideration of the 2020 order but provided clarification and guidance on some issues the petitions raised.

R2 Space will pay an $8,000 civil penalty and implement a compliance plan to resolve an FCC Enforcement Bureau investigation into whether the company transferred a satellite license without prior authorization, a bureau consent decree said Wednesday. The bureau said the transfer came in connection with Meta Aerospace's acquisition of R2 and its conversion of the business to an LLC without prior FCC OK. It said sale of the satellite license to Iceye is pending the outcome of a bureau investigation.

Opening the 12 GHz band to a high-power, two-way fixed service would "eviscerate [the] carefully crafted spectrum sharing regime" between direct broadcast satellite and multichannel video distribution and data service, DirecTV said. In a docket 20-443 filing posted Tuesday, it recapped a meeting with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's office where it asserted advocates for the new terrestrial service haven't met the burden of showing it wouldn't harm incumbent DBS satellite subscribers and services. DirecTV reiterated its criticisms of a Dish Network-commissioned analysis by RKF Engineering (see 2312270045).

Before getting a full license from the FCC, any proposed supplemental coverage from space (SCS) system should conduct a demonstration letting interested parties monitor for harmful interference, said Lynk. Meeting with FCC Space Bureau Chief Julie Kearney and Wireless Bureau Chief Joel Taubenblatt, Lynk also urged that SCS providers be allowed to apply for a Part 25 license before having a lease agreement with a mobile network operator, though it would have to show an executed business agreement before it could start service pursuant to that license. In a docket 23-65 posting Tuesday, Lynk said it also advocated that proposed geographical limits to SCS service be eliminated, as technology and business relationships can address interference concerns for SCS deployment.

Iridium's maritime connectivity business is feeling competitive pressure from low-cost Starlink service, the company said Thursday as it announced Q4 financial results. Chief Financial Officer Tom Fitzpatrick said that SpaceX competition will likely drive average revenue per user down this year. However, Iridium should "get back to growth sometime in 2025" as the competition is primarily in the relatively few cases where Iridium is the primary connectivity service rather than a complementary one, he said. CEO Matt Desch said Iridium was invited to join the Mobile Satellite Services Association and is researching the direct-to-device service consortium unveiled this month (see 2402090013).

Ligado will oppose Iridium's request to intervene in its L-band litigation against the U.S., the company said in an email to us. Iridium and aviation interests filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims last week joining the U.S. in opposing the suit (see 2402120009). Ligado said Iridium is a competitor, and DOD -- also a defendant in Ligado's suit -- is one of its largest sources of revenue. "Iridium is using its proposed participation to support a primary customer, shield itself from discovery, and benefit from the government’s taking of our property," Ligado said. "Contrary to the amicus curiae parties’ assertions, the bipartisan FCC unanimously authorized Ligado to operate terrestrial 5G services within our licensed spectrum after a rigorous, multiyear process," it said. "That April 2020 decision is final."

Ligado's federal complaint about its planned L-band use is against the U.S., Commerce, DOD and NTIA (see 2402120009).

Ligado's federal complaint about its planned L-band use "rests in critical parts on a skewed, misleading narrative," satellite and aviation interests told the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Friday in an amicus brief (docket 1:23-cv-1797) backing the government's motion to dismiss Ligado's suit against the U.S., DOD, Commerce and NTIA (see 2401260003). Iridium, Aireon, the Air Line Pilots Association, Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association said that their concerns about interference from Ligado's plans for a terrestrial L-band network "should inform the Court’s consideration." The concerns about "harmful interference arising from Ligado’s planned terrestrial operations are real and ongoing, not pretextual or resolved," they said. The brief said the U.S. argument that Ligado doesn't have a property interest in its L-band license, and thus the Constitution's takings clause isn't implicated, "is underscored by the fact that Ligado’s license remains subject to substantial contingencies," including ones stemming from multiple reconsideration petitions before the FCC and from the possibility of judicial review if the agency denies the petitions.

The in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing NPRM on the FCC's February agenda (see 2401250068) gives the agency far too broad authority, SpaceX said Monday in docket 22-271. Recapping meetings held with all five commissioners' offices and the FCC Space Bureau, SpaceX said the draft NPRM provides no limiting principle for agency authority over orbital debris mitigation or the cost, reliability and safety of ISAM craft. The draft also proposes assessing planetary protection plans of all spacecraft, including non-ISAM vehicles, it said. "Such broad interpretations of the Commission’s statutory authority ... would needlessly test the bounds of the Commission’s jurisdiction," it said.