Public safety should work satellite-based communications into its networks, the Satellite Industry Association told the FCC’s en banc hearing on public safety interoperable communications in the 700 MHz Band. “When disaster strikes, satellite infrastructure that has been integrated into a public safety network can be relied upon to bridge the dangerous gaps in communications caused by damaged and destroyed terrestrial infrastructure by providing an immediately available communications path, and assisting in restoration of the terrestrial network through backhaul of wireless systems,” SIA Chairman Jennifer Manner told the commission. The FCC should maintain the requirement that the D-block licensee make available at least one handset with integrated satellite technology, Manner said. The commission should also consider giving the eventual licensee flexibility on buildout requirements if the licensee chooses to incorporate satellite technology into its public-safety network, she said. SIA hasn’t taken a position on whether the FCC should stick with a public-private partnership, Manner said.

The satellite industry came out in force urging the FCC to let die a plan by the United Telecom Council to let power companies become secondary in the 14 GHz band. The FCC asked whether UTC’s request should proceed to a rule making, and the satellite industry said no. More than a dozen companies and groups with ties to satellite filed in opposition to the request.

Satellite TV and direct broadcast satellite services revenue grew 18 percent in 2007 to $55.4 billion, the Satellite Industry Association said. Satellite TV and DBS represented 75 percent of all satellite service revenues in 2007, SIA said in its annual State of the Satellite Industry Report. “Consumer demand for satellite television and satellite radio continues to drive both services and equipment revenues,” said SIA President Patricia Cooper. Commercial satellite global revenue grew 16 percent. The report was written and produced by Futron Corp., SIA said. The report contains data as of year-end 2007. Futron polled more than 70 satellite companies asking about aggregate revenue and employment output indicators, SIA said.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has issued a frequently asked question (FAQ) document on its updated Section 9.4 guidelines on licenses for exporting hardware "in furtherance of" agreements under Part 124 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR Part 124)¹.

The Satellite Industry Association has been meeting with senior FCC officials on its proposal that the commission make the 700 MHz D-block buildout rules more flexible if satellite technology is used. The agency is deciding how to restructure the D-block auction after bidding in the original sale didn’t meet the reserve price. The D-block is 10 MHz of commercial spectrum that was to be paired with 12 MHz of public-safety spectrum to create a public-private partnership that would build and run a nationwide interoperable broadband wireless network. One of the complaints about the D-block was the stringent buildout requirements. “It may well be appropriate to provide more flexibility in the buildout requirements,” SIA said. The dual mode mobile satellite service/terrestrial requirement that the FCC has already incorporated in its rules could be altered to allow more time to build out the terrestrial network if satellite coverage was available, an industry source said. In its original rules, the commission required the D-block licensee to offer at least one handset with both MSS and terrestrial capabilities.

The FCC must get better at collecting data on cellphone use on tribal lands, the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA) said in a filing. In February, the Wireless Bureau sought comment on the annual CMRS competition report. NTTA said the FCC doesn’t do enough to promote competition on tribal lands. The latest CMRS Market Report refers only once to wireless services on tribal lands -- a quote from CTIA, the group said.

Maintaining that direct broadcast satellite operators can space capacity to offer local-into-local HD service in all 210 TV markets, NAB demanded the FCC ask “probing questions” on “satellite design and capacity” that’s not readily available, said Jane Mago, NAB general counsel. “Past predictions of capacity constraints by the carriers have proven inaccurate,” Mago said.

India is “self-reliant” in the communications satellite area, Madhaven Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, told a Wednesday Washington, D.C., policy lunch. The country has a fleet of satellites carrying a total of 200 transponders, Nair said. As India builds new communications satellites, their capacity already is reserved, he said.

Comtech EF Data Corp. joined the Satellite Industry Association as an associate member, SIA said.

Mobile satellite services operators need at least three years to develop hearing-aid compatible handsets, the Satellite Industry Association told the FCC. Incorporating hearing-aid compatibility is “a lengthy process” involving 12 to 18 months of standards writing, SIA said. SIA defends the requested delay, saying MSS isn’t used by the general public: “The vast majority of MSS subscribers are commercial or government entities, not consumers.” The FCC should allow all existing MSS handsets and those in development to be marketed even if it requires future handsets to be hearing aid compatible, SIA said.