Hundreds of commenters opposed a proposal from NextNav that would reconfigure the 902-928 MHz band and "enable a high-quality, terrestrial complement” to GPS for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services (see 2404160043). Amateur radio operators weighed in early and often (see 2408120024). Joining them were many other groups whose members use the band. Comments were due Thursday in docket 24-240. NextNav on Friday defended its petition seeking a rulemaking.

The wireless industry urged the FCC to approve positions that promote 5G and 6G, and international mobile telecommunications (IMT) at the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027. Comments were due Tuesday in docket 24-30 on the FCC’s WRC Advisory Committee's (WAC) early policy positions (see 2408060019). Numerous satellite interests focused attention on: agenda item 1.7, additional mid-band spectrum and the X band being made available for IMT.

Trade groups, lawyers, investment firms, technology companies and foreign governments suggested a range of changes to the Treasury Department’s proposed outbound investment rules (see 2406210034), echoing calls last year for more clarity surrounding the due-diligence steps that will be required of deal-makers and warning that the U.S. risks chilling a broad range of U.S. ventures in China (see 2310050035). Several commenters also urged the Biden administration not to finalize the new prohibitions without similar buy-in from allies, with at least one group suggesting the U.S. is further from coordinating the rules among trading partners than it has let on.

Protected status for federal earth stations using commercial satellite services is "overdue," NTIA said this week in docket 24-121 as the FCC sought comment on expanded federal use of commercial satellite spectrum bands (see 2406280034). NTIA said the FCC should move quickly on an NPRM that lays the path for that protected status for federal earth stations using commercial satellite services. It suggested a regime where federal agencies would submit information to the commission for notice and comment, and then entry into the FCC’s earth station database, akin to the process some FAA-operated C-band earth stations in Alaska use. Warning of the possible hindrance of 5G’s rollout, CTIA said any sweeping allocation of spectrum to federal users on a primary basis “would exacerbate the existing imbalance between federal and non-federal spectrum allocations.” It said the FCC and its Office of Engineering and Technology need to clearly define the spectrum bands not already allocated for federal fixed satellite service (FSS) and mobile satellite service (MSS) that might be looked at for expanded federal use. It said adding federal allocations to the lower C band and to the 13 GHz band could complicate investigation of the bands for commercial mobile use. The Satellite Industry Association said FSS and MSS allocations should be added to the federal portion of the Table of Frequency Allocations for nonfederal spectrum bands, while also making clear federal operations under the allocation are limited to federal earth stations communicating with nonfederal space stations. It said federal users should have to follow the same rules and procedures as nonfederal users. SIA's comments were similar its 2021 advocacy, when the agency also looked at the issue (see 2110180066). The 10.7-11.7 GHz band is “critical” for mobile wireless traffic backhaul and a “safe harbor” band for fixed service systems relocating out of the 6 GHz band, said Comsearch. Fixed service use of the band has almost tripled in the past decade, it said. Comsearch said that extensive use of the band points to how it must be preserved for nonfederal terrestrial operations.

Broadcast groups demanded that the FCC acknowledge their industry’s increasing competition with tech companies and loosen regulations. Meanwhile, the Free State Foundation and Public Knowledge seek more spectrum, according to reply comments filed by Monday’s deadline in docket 24-119. The comments will inform the 2024 State of Competition in the Communications Marketplace report to Congress (see 2406070001)

Maine and Vermont legislators will reintroduce comprehensive privacy bills next session, lead sponsors told us in interviews. Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of Vermont’s privacy bill hasn’t discouraged supporters from seeking a private right of action (PRA) that Scott and industry opposed, Rep. Monique Priestley (D), the comprehensive measure’s sponsor, said. Meanwhile, in Maine, a veto threat from Gov. Janet Mills (D) means neither party will pursue a PRA in the upcoming session, Sen. Lisa Keim (R) told us. Mills' opposition to a PRA made it a nonstarter this session.

The commercial space industry widely objects to the FCC's proposed "object-years" approach for space safety, with numerous operators in comments last week calling it ineffective and more than one deriding it as "simplistic" (docket 18-313). Those comments were part of a record refresh in the FCC's orbital debris mitigation docket (see 2405020048). The FCC's object-years proposal would cap at 100 the number of years failed satellites in a constellation could remain in orbit. It has placed 100 object-years conditions on several non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) constellations in the past year (see 2406120006).

Worldwide satellite industry revenue rose 2% in 2023 from a year earlier and would have jumped 5% if not for a decline in video distribution, the Satellite Industry Association said Thursday in its annual state of the industry report. As of year's end, 625 active satellites were in geostationary orbit, 29 more than 2022, and 9,066 in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO), 2,346 more than 2022. U.S. entities operate more than 6,500 of the satellites, some in partnership with other nations, it said. Roughly 1 Tbps of high-throughput capacity was deployed in 2023, the report said. In addition, NGSO deployments total close to 170 Tbps of capacity. Operators plan on deploying nearly 150 Tbps through 2028, the vast majority of that from NGSO constellations in development.

Industry commenters urged the FCC to avoid imposing additional outage reporting requirements. Reply comments to a January Further NPRM (see 2401250064) were filed this week in docket 21-346.

In launching its Space Bureau last year, the FCC "worked hard to invite new entrants" into space, and that approach has seen some success, agency Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in prepared remarks during a Satellite Industry Association event Monday night. An example of that success was Intuitive Machines' lunar lander mission last month, with it being a first-time licensee receiving the FCC's first-ever lunar license, she said. Rosenworcel said the commission "will do everything in its power to make sure the United States continues to set the pace in space -- both for our economy and our national security." Also at the SIA event, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin said the satellite industry "has a critical role to play" in closing the globe's digital divides and said the ITU "is here to support you as you take up this challenge." According to provided remarks, she said sustaining "the shared space environment — particularly the radio-frequency spectrum — has to be a top priority as we continue to push the limits of space innovation." In addition, she said the ITU is encouraging the satellite community to voluntarily share de-orbiting strategies and plans "to build awareness for safe physical coexistence in orbit."