Tim Warren

Governmental plans for broadband deployment in the U.S. and other countries should emphasize universal connectivity rather than a limited population’s reaching the highest speeds, David McGlade, Intelsat’s said Tuesday on a panel at the Satellite 2010 conference in National Harbor, Md. Speeds as high as 100 Mbps, although reachable, make sense only for the densest regions, he said.

Continued uncertainty in the launch market hurts the satellite industry’s ability to develop strategic business plans for investors, said Michael McDonnell, Intelsat’s chief financial officer. At the Satellite 2010 conference in National Harbor, Md., he joined other CFOs on a panel Monday in saying he hopes Sea Launch can emerge soon from bankruptcy to help keep the launch market competitive.

The Senate passed legislation reauthorizing satellite TV providers’ distant signal licenses for five years Wednesday. It’s a significant step for what has proven to be a difficult piece of legislation to complete. The Satellite TV Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA) was an amendment to a larger jobs bill (HR-4213), which passed 62-36. The bill will next move to the House, where leadership will decide to vote on the bill as-is, or make changes with the Senate through a conference, industry and Senate officials said.

EchoStar and Mexican partner MVS Comunicaciones agreed to buy Satelites Mexicanos (Satmex) for $267 million in cash. The deal still requires regulatory and bondholder approval and a Q3 completion is expected, EchoStar said. The acquisition is both highly risky and strategic, company executives said during a quarterly earnings call Monday.

Mobile satellite service (MSS) providers are taking FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s comments about dealing with their spectrum as a major policy victory, industry officials said. Genachowski said Wednesday the National Broadband Plan will seek to resolve spectrum disputes in MSS and wireless- communications services bands by “giving licensees the option of new flexibility.” Recent comments filed by wireless providers said MSS/ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) spectrum isn’t being adequately used, fueling speculation that the commission would take back some spectrum. A satellite executive called Genachowski’s statement a serious blow to the commenters.

Sirius XM probably won’t pursue a reverse stock split to get back into compliance with NASDAQ’s listing requirements, executives said on an earnings call Thursday. NASDAQ had warned the company in September that its stock must trade above $1 for 10 straight business days by March 15 or risk delisting.

DirecTV sued Dish Network for false advertising, claiming that a recent ad campaign misrepresents what are comparable packages between the two companies, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. DirecTV is asking the court to force Dish to pay DirecTV all profits related to the advertising, financial damages sustained by DirecTV as a result of the advertising, exemplary damages and attorneys’ fees. The company said Dish’s advertising violates the Lanham Act, New York General Business Law and common law of unfair competition.

Intelsat continues to work to restore service to customers using capacity on its IS-4 satellite, following a problem with its backup satellite central processing unit (CD Feb 3 p12), a company spokeswoman said. Service to some customers has been restored, she said. The satellite, which hosts a mix of network services and media customers over 16 Ku-band transponders, shut down its communications payload to save battery power, she said. Intelsat was planning to take the satellite out of service later this year. As is often the case with satellites nearing their end of life, IS-4 isn’t covered by insurance.

The FCC probably will loosen band rules for wireless communications service to accommodate mobile broadband services, executives said. So Sirius XM has stepped up efforts to persuade the FCC not to allow WCS band licensees’ operations to interfere with the Sirius XM service. The company Thursday discussed the technical limits it recommends for a WCS band adjustment with the Office of Engineering and Technology and the Wireless Bureau, according to an ex parte filing. It met with International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre and aides Jan. 14 (CD Jan 20 p 14) and outlined its technical recommendations in a filing with the OET earlier this month (CD Jan 6 p 6).

Light satellite broadband competition, underperforming suburban terrestrial connectivity and a lack of rural terrestrial networks will help propel Avanti Communications as a satellite broadband provider in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, CEO David Williams said in an interview. Investors and the U.S. and French governments recently provided financing for the company’s second satellite (CD Dec 22 p10).