ARRL: AST Has Yet to Justify Use of 430-440 MHz
AST SpaceMobile still hasn't justified why it wants to use the 430-440 MHz band for commercial satellite telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) purposes, ARRL told the FCC Wednesday. AST's request "is completely outside the scope of domestic and international allocations for this spectrum" and should be denied, the group said (docket 25-201). Amateur radio interests globally have opposed AST's plans to use the swath of spectrum for TT&C (see 2507210031). ARRL noted that AST also hasn't analyzed the interference potential to amateur radio service, nor has it shown a shortage of spectrum allocated for TT&C.
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AST said none of the objections provide a basis for denying or delaying approval of additional TT&C authority. They also don't raise new claims that the FCC can't address by license conditions, the company added. AST has "thoughtfully designed" its proposed satellite system to mitigate interference to UHF-band amateur radio, and it's proposing "very limited, non-routine TT&C use" of the 430-440 MHz band only during launch, early orbit and emergency operations when other frequency bands are unavailable.