FWCC PROPOSAL ROUNDLY OPPOSED BY SATELLITE AND CABLE INDUSTRIES
Proposal by Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) that seeks changes in FCC rules on access to spectrum for satellite services has drawn strong opposition from satellite and cable industries. Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA), Satellite Bcstg. & Communications Assn. (SBCA), World Teleport Assn. (WTA), Aerospace Industries Assn.(AIA) and National Cable TV Assn. (NCTA) filed comments opposing changes. Among things FWCC wants is declaratory ruling on partial band licensing of Earth Stations in Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) that share terrestrial spectrum, routine licensing of 3.7 meter transmit and receive stations on C- band and deployment of geostationary orbit FSS earth stations in share portion of Ka-band. Each of groups said changes wouldn’t be in public interest.
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In joint filing, SIA, SBCA, WTA and AIA, core of satellite industry, suggested change would “reverse long-standing policies in favor of flexibility” for earth station operators and would be “completely inconsistent” with Commission’s current history of “streamlining application processes and deregulating satellite services.” Furthermore, filing said, there is “absolutely no evidence” rule changes are needed. Groups did support for FCC to adopt Hughes proposal to streamline licensing of Ka-band terminals.
Groups said they opposed proposed changes because: (1) There was no evidence to support satellite operations that were critical to U.S. telecom infrastructure. (2) Flexibility built into current regulations was essential to continued efficient provision of satellite services. (3) Commission record contained no evidence that current policies unfairly disadvantaged terrestrial operators. (4) FCC shouldn’t adopt rules that could substantially undermine viability of next-generation broadband satellite systems. (5) Proposed use demonstration was impractical and would burden satellite systems unreasonably. (6) Fair determination of earth station use would require consideration of broad range of complex factors. (7) Demonstration of use would impose significant burdens on earth station operators and would require disclosure of sensitive business information.
NCTA said its members would be “significantly harmed” by proposed changes in rules on coordination and shared use of certain radio spectrum bands by FSS earth stations and terrestrial fixed service (FS) operations. NCTA said public also would be harmed by changes. Cable operators and programmers need flexibility to continue to use earth stations to transmit and receive programming across allocated satellite band at all azimuths and elevations, NCTA said. Requiring FSS earth station operators that accepted particular level of interference from one FS station licensee to accept that level of interference from all future coordinated FS stations would be harmful. Finally, NCTA said it believed FCC should reject proposal to require FSS licensees to demonstrate recent, current or imminent use of any of licensed spectrum that it wanted to protect against interference from FS applicant. And it should reject proposal to require FSS earth station operators that accept particular level of interference from one FS station licensee to accept that level of interference from all future coordinated FS stations.