Replies in the FCC proceeding on streamlining Part 25 rules for earth and space station licensing showed overall support for the commission’s effort, with some disagreement on operational and technical aspects proposed in original comments (CD Jan 16 p8). Replies in docket 12-267 were due Wednesday on the rulemaking notice approved by the FCC Sept. 28, which proposed changing definitions of terms related to satellites and the equipment on the ground with which they communicate (CD Oct 1 p10). Among the goals is to “remove unnecessary reporting rules” and consolidate “remaining requirements for annual reporting, while improving reporting of emergency contacts,” the item said (http://bit.ly/VXlc5E).

The Satellite Industry Association wants the FCC to deny Qualcomm’s petition for a proceeding to establish a new terrestrial-based, air-to-ground mobile service in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band. SIA reiterated its concern that Qualcomm’s proposed ATG operations in the Ku band, “even on a secondary basis, would put many services at risk and retard further innovation in the satellite sector,” it said in an ex parte filing in RM-11640 (http://bit.ly/X0wLwb). Such a network will receive more interference from primary fixed satellite services than feasible for operation, it said. Satellite earth stations in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band “can be blanket-licensed and can be deployed anywhere at any time, which heightens the interference potential into ATG ground stations and aircraft,” SIA said. It may be possible for a terrestrial ATG network to share spectrum with other services in frequency bands, SIA added: But in the Ku band, skyward transmission paths, high satellite receiver sensitivity and other factors “suggest that such a shared use of the spectrum will not be viable.” The filing recounted a meeting between SIA members including Harris Corp. and SES and staff from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s office and with International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre.

O3b Networks and ITT Exelis became members of the Satellite Industry Association. O3b, a global satellite services provider, plans to launch a constellation of medium earth orbit Ka-band satellites, SIA said in a press release. ITT Exelis, a satellite technology provider, offers next-generation solutions “for the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance market,” it said.

The satellite industry backed the FCC’s effort to streamline Part 25 rules for earth and space station licensing processes and offered revisions to some technical standards, in comments in docket 12-267. NCTA, NPR and some satellite entities expressed concerns about rules for the Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS). Comments on the rulemaking notice approved at the Sept. 28 FCC meeting (CD Oct 1 p10) were due Monday.

The Senate passed the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act Friday, which, as expected, includes a provision that would reduce export restrictions on some satellites and their components (CD Dec 20 p16). The NDAA conference report was approved 81-14. The provision is based on the Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act, S-3211, introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. Colorado is a national hub for the space industry, Bennet said in a press release (http://xrl.us/bn7hj5). These reforms to satellite export controls “will allow businesses to expand their operations and invest in new technologies that will help grow our state’s economy,” he said. The legislation will provide “a more even playing field for U.S. satellite companies, spurring economic and job growth and bolstering the leadership of the U.S. space community for many years,” the Satellite Industry Association said. The provision “will remove the legislative mandate that required one-size-fits-all regulation for satellite trade,” SIA said. House lawmakers also approved the NDAA last week. Members of the space and satellite industry reiterated the need for reforms following a review from the Defense and State departments backing the removal of non-critical satellites from the U.S. munitions list (CD April 19 p7).

The Senate passed the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act Dec. 21, which, as expected, includes a provision that would reduce export restrictions on some satellites and their components. The bill will next go to the President for his signature. The NDAA conference report was approved 81-14 is (here). The provision is based on the Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act, S-3211, introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

Qualcomm countered warnings from the Satellite Industry Association about the company’s proposal for a Next Generation Air-Ground Service in the 14-14.5 GHz band and asked the FCC to move forward on a notice of proposed rulemaking. SIA warned in a Dec. 11 ex parte presentation that Qualcomm’s proposed service could cause interference for Ku-band satellites (http://xrl.us/bn7cvt). “Updated calculations continue to show that a significant number of operational satellites would be subjected to excessive levels of interference from the Next-Gen AG system,” SIA said. “Qualcomm has closely reviewed the interference concerns raised by SIA and once again shows that there is no risk that the Next Generation Air-Ground Service will cause harmful interference to incumbent GSO FSS uplinks, nor is there any risk that the incumbent users of the 14.0 to 14.5 GHz band will cause harmful interference to the Next-Gen AG service,” Qualcomm said (http://xrl.us/bn7cxn).

An FCC proposal to reform its regulatory fee process highlighted a rift between the satellite industry and telecom providers, which disagree on how to count work done by full-time employees (FTE) in different bureaus. The FCC proposed in July (http://xrl.us/bnvuqh) to reform its processes for assessing the fees that cover its operational costs, changing how it allocates “direct” and “indirect” FTEs to calculate fees. Based on aggregated bureau-level FTE data, the commission would allocate all FTEs in the Wireless, Media, Wireline and International bureaus as “direct” and all FTEs in the support bureaus as “indirect.” In replies, the satellite industry criticized telco and carrier proposals to treat all work done by FTEs as the same, fearing this could lead to disproportionately high fees for earth and space station applications.

AIS Engineering and Encompass Government Solutions joined the Satellite Industry Association. AIS, based in Silver Spring, Md., specializes in satellite communications for voice, video and data networks, SIA said in a press release (http://xrl.us/bnte9o). Encompass, based in California, provides military sectors and government “with global teleport, satellite and terrestrial services,” including satellite and fiber solutions and fixed and mobile uplink services, SIA said.

FCC members approved a notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at streamlining and eliminating requirements for earth and space station licensing under Part 25 of the agency’s rules. The commission expects the changes to lead to faster deployment of satellite services to customers and easing regulatory burdens on licensees and the commission, staff said Friday at its monthly meeting. The NPRM proposed changes to more than 100 rule sections and subsections to give licensees the flexibility to provide innovative services “while ensuring an operating environment free from harmful interference,” an agency news release said.