FCC, Others Argue Against SSO-Sought C-Band Order Stay
Small satellite operators (SSO) ABS Global, Empresa and Hispasat's ask for a stay of the FCC's C-band clearing order (see 2005180036) didn't show they would be harmed without one since the deadline for ending operations is December 2025 and their…
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compliance is easy because they aren't using the band to serve U.S. customers. That's according to the FCC Thursday in a U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit response (in Pacer, docket 20-1142). None of the initial transition steps of the next year-plus would harm the SSOs and the court has plenty of time to consider and decide before any payments are made to any satellite operator, it said. Joining the FCC were CTIA, AT&T, and Verizon, which said (in Pacer) they backed an expedited decision on the challenges to the order before the Dec. 8 C-band auction commences because that would "provide certainty that benefits the public and prospective auction bidders." They said a stay would cause "tremendous harm ... throughout the entire wireless ecosystem and the broader economy." Also opposing a stay, SES said (in Pacer) the C-band order was justified by the FCC's broad authority and the alleged economic harms to the SSOs aren't real. SSO outside counsel didn't comment.