C-Band Phase 1 Filter Supply Likely OK as Switch Looms
As the C-band phase 1 transition moves into filtering for MVPD earth stations, we're told filter supplies are expected to be more than sufficient. Intelsat and SES have largely cleared the band's lower 120 MHz, they told an ACA Connects webinar Thursday. Tom McNamara, Intelsat vice president-C-band transition management, said the satellite operator's completing that clearing last weekend was "a big milestone."
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Paul Wagler, president of hardware distributor Viking Satcom, emailed that filters, antennas, feeds and low-noise block downconverters "are readily available for all those that require them." Benjamin Slagle, network systems engineer for Ohio cable operator MCTV, emailed it "had no issue getting the filters." Slagle said installation, while time-consuming, isn't difficult.
SES has one cable service, QVC, still in the lower 100 MHz of the band, which will remain there this month to allow unregistered affiliates to transition, Steve Corda, vice president-technology, corporate strategy and development, told the webinar. Both incumbent satellite C-band operators said they started MVPD filter installations this week and expect phase 1 filtering work to be done by the end of August. Corda said any operators within about 60 miles of the 46 partial economic areas involved in phase 1 should install the interim "red" filters to prevent any possible 5G interference starting potentially in December, when terrestrial operators will be able to start 5G service in the lower 100 MHz in those PEAs. Phase 2, which finishes by December 2023, will involve installing filters at all cable headends in the lower 48, with end-state "blue" filters replacing the red ones, he said.
Intelsat's McNamara said earth station operators in the top 46 PEAs should "avoid going to blue [filters]" yet unless they're certain all their services are in 400 MHz or higher, since the blue filter itself could filter out those signals below 4000 MHz. McNamara said the phase 1 filters will filter out altimeter radar and 5G signals. Corda said the filters should also block out citizens broadband radio service interference below the C band.
SES' Corda said about 50% of the sites that haven't taken lump sum payments are scheduled for filter work, and it's trying to get as much done as possible this and next month. McNamara said about 40% of its customers' sites that didn't go the lump sum payment route are scheduled.
Currently, there’s no deadline for claimants to set up profiles with the clearinghouse, said Frank Banda, relocation payment clearinghouse program manager. He said no funds are available to pay lump-sum claims until overlay licenses are issued. He said the clearinghouse is awaiting some comments on the C-band handbook so it can be finalized in the next couple of weeks.
ACA, speaking with Wireless and International bureaus and Office of General Counsel staffers, suggested draft handbook changes, per a docket 18-122 post Thursday. They include lump sum payment claims processing be subjected to the least scrutiny, since lump sum elections "were subject to very few variables and minimal elector discretion." ACA said some requirements on claimants, such as providing diagrams or pictures in support of claims, "are unduly burdensome" and should be applied sparingly. It suggested convening stakeholder focus groups to review and simulate use of the claim submission form before that document goes into service, and enabling batch claim submission.