Satellite operators are lobbying the FCC heavily about protecting earlier-round non-geostationary orbit systems from later-round NGSOs, but the industry is split on metrics. Meeting with the offices of all five FCC commissioners, Intelsat reiterated its backing for a 3% threshold in throughput degradation for long-term interference protection and a sliding-scale in degradation for short-term protection, according to a post in docket 21-456 Monday. It said Intelsat opposes a 0.4% flat degradation. Amazon's Kuiper said that there's industry consensus on numerous issues and that the agency should reject O3b's "bespoke and complicated formula" for calculating short-term interference threshold and instead go with the absolute short-term threshold within the range suggested by it -- 0.1% -- and SpaceX -- 0.4%. Kuiper said O3b's "overly protective" short-term threshold incentivizes incumbents to make unreasonable coordination demands and use its protections against new competitors. In meetings with the offices of the four regular commissioners, O3b said the 0.4% absolute change would hurt NGSO customers and competition. That approach, O3b added, would let later-round systems put higher levels of short-term interference on incumbents than a system in the same processing round could, under current processing round rules. O3b reiterated its call for a Further NPRM seeking input on the different short-term interference metric proposals (see 2410150045).

The Commerce Department's revised space-related export control rules announced Thursday are aimed at "further[ing] U.S. innovation and technology leadership while protecting U.S. national security and foreign policy interests," the agency said. Under the revised rules, Commerce is ending license requirements for exports to Australia, Canada and the U.K. of some items for remote sensing or space-based logistics, assembly or servicing spacecraft. It also is ending license requirements for the export of certain space components to more than 40 nations. And it's proposing to transfer jurisdiction of some defense-related space technology from the State Department's U.S. munitions list to Commerce's control list, meaning Commerce could use license exceptions to allow exports of that tech to allies. The rules changes are "a really big deal [and] the biggest change to space export controls since the Obama Admin reforms," Aerospace Corp. Systems Director Brian Weeden posted on LinkedIn Friday. The changes should help the U.S. "expand [its space] technological leadership into the future," Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning said.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project's Release 19 standards will incorporate Iridium technology, Iridium CEO Matt Desch said Thursday as the company announced Q3 earnings. The standards will be issued in Q4 2025. Inclusion in Release 19 opens the door for Iridium's L-band frequencies and technology to be included in industry-standard chipsets, he added. Release 19 will be a big part of Iridium's direct-to-device service, with launch plans in 2026. Revenue for the quarter was $212.7 million, up from $197.6 million from Q3 a year prior.

The number of maritime vessels with geostationary orbit very small aperture terminal satellite connectivity has leveled off at around 42,000, and GSO VSAT use has likely peaked in favor of low earth operator satellite systems, Valour Consultancy blogged Tuesday. Some service providers have reported their GEO VSAT spending dropping 30%-50% in 2023. Valour predicted the number of vessels subscribing to LEO services will surpass GEO VSAT by 2026's end.

SES' proposed $3.1 billion purchase of Intelsat (see 2404300048) won't mean greater concentration in media content distribution, as their customers already have numerous options for distributing content to consumers aside from C-band satellite distribution, the two told the FCC Wednesday in docket 24-267. Instead, New SES would be better able to compete with those other options, they said. The agency should reject any proposed conditions that would jeopardize C-band media distribution, they added. NAB took no position on SES/Intelsat or conditions but said it backed NCTA's urging that the FCC consider the impact the transaction would have on quality and cost of C-band satellite services (see 2410010018).

Autos and trucks with built-in satellite-delivered connectivity will reach 30 million by 2034, ABI Research said Wednesday. Some Chinese original equipment manufacturers are shipping vehicles with the technology already, it added. Ubiquitous connectivity to drivers is a value proposition OEMs have lacked due to limits in cellular network coverage, but it provides a reliable after-sales revenue stream for OEMs. Satellite connectivity is particularly appealing in the U.S., China and the EU, given their strong markets for premium and SUV vehicles, it said. Collaboration between the European Space Agency, 5G Automotive Association and Third Generation Partnership Project will be key to unlocking satellite-connectivity capabilities.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr watched the Sunday launch and landing of SpaceX's Starship heavy launch rocket. "A historic day here in Texas. The most powerful rocket ever built. And an extraordinary booster catch back at the pad. Amazing to see," Carr posted Sunday on X along with short video clips.

With OneWeb backing O3b's proposed short-term non-geostationary orbit satellite interference metric, it's the only short-term metric before the FCC to have support from a third party, O3b officials told the offices of Commissioners Nathan Simington and Anna Gomez, according to a docket 21-456 filing Tuesday. O3b said its approach can provide protection for all established NGSO systems, not just its own. O3b representatives told FCC Space Bureau staffers the company would urge that the FCC seek comment on an appropriate short-term interference metric in a Further NPRM, allowing parties to weigh in on different proposals. O3b said the FCC should defer a decision on the appropriate short-term interference metric as that would allow the agency to ensure an adequate record.

Northwood Space announced last week a successful test with Planet Labs of phased array Earth-to-space antenna technology for use in satellite ground stations. “Our multi-beam system achieved bidirectional communications links over the full duration of a pass, running nominal operations for Planet,” said a news release: “We achieved commanding capabilities on our very first shot.” Northwood said it built and deployed the antenna in four months, “less time than it takes many companies to repair a parabolic dish.” Former TV actor and singer Bridgit Mendler leads the startup. "At Northwood we’re taking on the big task of transforming connectivity between Earth and space” and “a few days ago we made meaningful progress,” Mendler said on X.

AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan discussed the company's satellite system and its interest in the 5G Rural America Fund with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said a filing Friday in docket 20-32. Avellan has met with all the regular commissioners in recent days (see 2410080045 and 2410030025).