C-Band Satellite Operators Upping Call for Faster Clearing Certification
A group of incumbent satellite operators is trying to prod the FCC to move faster on establishing rules for C-band Phase II accelerated clearing. The Wireless Bureau is seeking input on proposed procedures for the filing of phase II certifications of accelerated relocation, due April 20 (see 2303200040), but SES, Intelsat and Telesat floated a process in advance that they developed with the C-band relocation coordinator for FCC review and approval of Phase II accelerated relocation certifications that would start June 1.
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That process "will ensure that no incumbent Earth Station ... is left behind" during the C-band transition, they said Thursday in a docket 18-122 ex parte filing, recapping a meeting with Wireless and International Bureau and Office of General Counsel representatives. The commission didn't comment.
Amenable weather helped C-band transition work this year such as filter installation, so all the satellite operators are slightly ahead of schedule, a person involved in the proceeding told us. He said, rather than wait to file their C-band certification proposal April 20, the three decided to bring their certification proposal to the agency sooner with the hope that extra time might mean the agency can put out a public notice by mid-May that would establish a June 1 opening of a filing window to file Phase II certifications. He said it's unlikely the June 1 timeframe could be met if they delayed filing their proposal until April 20.
Under their proposal, the FCC would set a deadline of June 1 for opening a window for the C-band incumbent satellite operators to update their transition plans and file their Phase II certifications and the relocation coordinator's final Phase II incumbent earth station claims. They're urging the agency to adopt a two-step process before certifications can be submitted for verification -- the relocation coordinator would first file its final list, to make sure the satellite operators' claims line up with that; then the satellite operators would file updates to their transition plans.
The trio said C-band operators Eutelsat and Embratel likely "will also lend their support to these proposals." Embratel didn't comment. Eutelsat emailed it was "pleased to see that other satellite operators finally agree that the FCC should move quickly to open the Phase II accelerated relocation certification and validation process, as we have been asking for more than a year." Citing Verizon's imminent use of the cleared C band, Eutelsat repeatedly pushed for the agency to act on a certification process (see 2302280009). "We believe the proposed time frames could be accelerated because satellite operators are working cooperatively and diligently with the Relocation Coordinator to resolve the remaining handful of Phase II claims within the next several weeks," it emailed. "We are reviewing the specifics of the proposal submitted to the FCC and will file comments in due course.”