Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) supports FCC efforts to improve licensing system, but is concerned some proposed changes could affect satellite operators adversely, group told Commission in presentation Aug. 14, ex parte filing said. After 30 years, advances in technology and influx of new applicants that has slowed process dramatically, Commission is studying new rules for licensing regime in pending rulemaking. SIA is particularly concerned about changes in time when more stringent export controls, overcapacity and telecom slump have been blamed for hurting U.S. satellite market. SIA sought meeting with FCC officials to discuss way new rules would be implemented. “We are still a long way off from a final decision,” Coudert Bros. satellite analyst Timothy Logue told us: “This is a very important issue.” He said satellite licensing would be major topic at International Satellite & Communications Conference and Expo in Long Beach, Cal. Tues.-Thurs.
FCC must prevent noncompliant radar detectors from being sold because they cause harmful interference to VSAT operators, Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) said in ex parte filing. Extending Commission’s Aug. 28 manufacturing and import deadline, or Sept. 27 marketing deadline, would exacerbate current problem caused by unlicensed, noncompliant radar detectors, it said, and selective product recalls were common in retailing that routinely were managed without disrupting retail businesses. Radar detector manufacturers and retailers had adequate notice of proceeding and didn’t respond to Commission’s request for comment on timeframe needed to comply with possible rules imposing radar detector emission limits, SIA said. No excuse has been provided for failing to raise those issues in timely fashion or for retailers’ failing to participate in proceeding at earlier stage, it said.
FCC should minimize regulation of orbital debris, many in satellite industry say. Led by Satellite Industry Assn., operators generally said Commission shouldn’t establish new rules to mitigate orbital debris. FCC decision to begin proceeding for new rules governing space debris is “unnecessary regulation” because satellite industry has “commercial self-interest to regulate itself,” SES Americom attorney Phil Spector told us: “There has never been a problem.” He said satellite operators “believe it’s overreaction to widely publicized problems of Iridium.”
Radar detector industry petitioned FCC July 26 for partial reconsideration of decision that required those devices to meet Part 15 limits on emissions in 11.7-12.2 GHz band. While saying they agreed with order’s technical provisions (CED July 23 p4), group of 6 radar detector manufacturers argued that implementation schedule was “infeasible, unprecedented and unnecessary.”
Radar detector industry petitioned FCC Fri. for partial reconsideration of decision that required those devices to meet Part 15 limits on emissions in 11.7-12.2 GHz band. While saying they agreed with order’s technical provisions (CD July 22 p1), group of 6 radar detector manufacturers argued that implementation schedule was “infeasible, unprecedented and unnecessary.” Commission required that radar detectors made domestically or imported into U.S. comply with new technical rules starting 30 days after publication in Federal Register. All radar detectors marketed in U.S., including those sold at retail, must start compliance within 60 days of that publication. Members of Radio Assn. Defending Airwave Rights (RADAR) instead want FCC to require compliance by Dec. 31 “and that the distribution pipeline be left to empty at its own speed.” If Commission still decides to require date for retail compliance, RADAR proposes July 1, 2003, deadline. Current timelines could “shut down” industry, it warned. Rules were designed to prevent interference to VSATs that had been traced to radar detectors. Petition for more time for compliance drew sharp criticism from Satellite Industry Assn. (SIA) Fri., with Exec. Dir. Richard DalBello saying he was “flabbergasted” by request.
Satellite industry continued to grow despite concerns about export laws, consolidation and dwindling support from financial markets, said 2002 Satellite Industry Indicators Survey put out by Satellite Industry Assn. Study said satellite services remained largest and fastest growing segment, generating $46.4 billion in revenue in 2001, up 18% over 2000. Of that, $7.2 billion came from lease of transponders and remaining $39.2 billion from subscription satellite services, report said. Manufacture of satellite- related ground equipment accounted for $19.6 billion, up 12% from 2000. U.S. satellite manufacturing, including payments to satellite prime contractors and their subcontractors, produced $5.5 billion of $14.1 billion in global revenue. U.S. launch services industry generated $1.7 billion or 34% of global launch revenue. U.S. launch and manufacturing industry revenue declined at greater rate than global average, report said, caused by several factors, including competitiveness of foreign suppliers, fluctuation of international exchange rates and continued global perception that U.S. satellite export control laws were barrier to commerce. Statistics for report were compiled by SIA and Futron Corp.
When granting additional flexibility for spectrum use, several wireless carriers and equipment makers urged FCC this week not to change rules in “midstream” for incumbent licensees that already had paid billions for licenses. Wireless and satellite companies, new technology developers, broadcasters and public interest groups filed close to 200 comments on questions from agency’s Spectrum Policy Task Force. Relatively high number of comments poured into Commission despite Office of Engineering & Technology’s refusal of several requests to provide extension of July 8 deadline. Public notice last month raised policy questions ranging from potential need to redefine harmful interference to whether rural spectrum should be covered under policy different from urban areas (CD June 7 p1). Some developers of emerging technologies stressed need for FCC to provide clarity in its Part 15 rules for unlicensed devices and to furnish more spectrum as demands increased. Several large carriers, including Sprint and Cingular, urged FCC to keep intact auctions of exclusive allocations and said market- based tools such as auctions worked only if license-holders had clearly defined rights.
Two pro-independent ISP groups released separate studies Mon. saying FCC rulemakings were in danger of eliminating independent ISPs, echoing charges by other ISPs and affiliated groups. Flurry of ISP activity is result of reply comments deadline for FCC in its broadband wireline rulemaking, one of several broadband actions drawing attention of ISPs. While several groups claiming to represent ISPs agree proposed FCC rules would hurt their ability to compete in broadband, there appeared to be disagreement on extent to which Bush Administration was endorsing inclination of FCC Chmn. Powell to favor so-called intermodal competition between broadband platforms, rather than competition among specific companies or sectors on single platform.
Two pro-independent ISP groups released separate studies Mon. saying FCC rulemakings were in danger of eliminating independent ISPs, echoing charges by other ISPs and affiliated groups (CD July 1 p1). Flurry of ISP activity is result of reply comments deadline for FCC in its broadband wireline rulemaking, one of several broadband actions drawing attention of ISPs. While several groups claiming to represent ISPs agree proposed FCC rules would hurt their ability to compete in broadband, there appeared to be disagreement on extent to which Bush Administration was endorsing inclination of FCC Chmn. Powell to favor so-called intermodal competition between broadband platforms, rather than competition among specific companies or sectors on single platform.
High-tech industry was active on 8th floor of FCC last week, with 2 high-level ex parte meetings with commissioners and numerous filings, all on broadband deployment. Commission is seeing schism in high-tech, however, with one group pushing for Bells to be free of unbundling obligations on new fiber deployments while faulting cable modem providers, and others warning that ISPs could be put out of business by FCC actions sought by Bells. “You can imagine the complexity that the commissioners have to deal with,” said TIA Vp-Govt. Relations Grant Seiffert, who participated in meeting Wed. with FCC Chmn. Powell and is seeking to have new Bell build-outs be exempt from unbundling. But for ISPs and groups representing them, issue isn’t complex. ISPs, with their quality of service and focus on local customers, “drove the dial-up market,” said Information Technology Assn. of America (ITAA) Counsel-Internet Div. Mark Uncapher, but FCC now is threatening to make that sector extinct.