Space interests applauded the White House announcement Monday that the U.S. committed to not doing direct-ascent anti-satellite missile testing and is urging other nations to make similar promises. The U.S. "is demonstrating leadership at the international level," the Secure World Foundation said. "As productive discussions in multilateral fora continue on norms and principles for responsible behavior in space, this new U.S. policy sends a clear message about U.S. commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of outer space." The announcement demonstrates "continued American leadership in establishing responsible norms of behavior in space," LeoLabs tweeted. "Working with international partners and commercial companies, the US has an opportunity to foster a safe space environment and protect the critical services that space-based resources provide to humanity, like global communications and essential climate data," emailed Planet Labs, which urged the U.S. earlier this month to lead an international effort against such weaponry (see 2204150007).

Myriota anticipates putting up more than 198 satellites over a 15-year period for its planned satellite mobile service constellation, including replacements and potential failures, it told the FCC International Bureau last week. With an estimated three-year satellite lifetime, it will need 180 satellites over a 15-year period, with a 10% margin, it said Friday. Each satellite will have two types of propulsion systems -- one that can be used for collision avoidance and the other intended for station-keeping, it said.

The commercial satcom world is increasingly worried about anti-satellite weaponry and testing. Such weapons "can destroy many space activities for our lifetime," OneWeb and O3b founder Greg Wyler tweeted Friday. "Unfortunately there are lots of them. It’s a huge diode threat to the benefits of space." Planet Labs co-founders Will Marshall and Robbie Schingler said last week they were "irresponsible" and urged the U.S. "to lead an international effort to prohibit the use of debris-creating anti-satellite weapons."

Intelsat expects to put into orbit its Galaxy 35 C-band replacement satellite in Q4, replacing Galaxy 3C, it told the FCC International Bureau last week as it sought OK for the launch and satellite operation. The company expects to have seven C-band replacement satellites launched and operating by Q3 2023 as part of the C-band clearing (see 2204010052).

Viasat Community Internet sites are being set up in parts of eastern Slovakia, in partnership with the nation's Kosice region, to provide internet access to Ukrainian refugees there, Viasat said Thursday. Viasat Community Internet uses connectivity from a Viasat satellite to create a public Wi-Fi hot spot.

The FCC should make clear to the C-Band Relocation Payment Clearinghouse that integrated receiver/decoders compression technology is a reimbursable expense for satellite operators wholly independent of earth station registrations, Intelsat said in docket 18-122 Thursday. Its IRD equipment reimbursement request is pending before the Clearinghouse. It said IRDs are "absolutely necessary" for the C-band transition, and it consulted with its programmer customers to determine how many were needed before buying them in bulk.

That SpaceX's constellation plans can be an interference threat to direct broadcast satellite operations in the 12 GHz band points to it being unlikely to fulfill its obligations under Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction rules, Dish Network said in docket 09-197 Wednesday. It included various technical assessments it said demonstrated how SpaceX would exceed equivalent power flux density limits. SpaceX plans to employ the 12 GHz band, Dish said, but "spectrum users violating the technical restrictions of the Commission’s rules for a frequency band are ineligible for purposes of certifying access." SpaceX didn't comment.

Satellite truck operator Arctek Satellite Production and its two C-band temporary-fixed earth stations won't be included in the list of incumbent earth stations for purposes of the C-band transition, the FCC International Bureau ordered Wednesday in docket 20-205. Some earth station operators might incur financial costs for not registering or modifying their licenses, but "the Commission’s decisions reflect the importance of complying with the rules and procedures adopted in this proceeding," it said, rejecting Arctek arguments. CEO Brian Stanley told us Arctek is disappointed with the ruling.

Embratel is seeking U.S. market access for its Brazil-licensed Star One D2 satellite, which launched in July. In an FCC International Bureau application Tuesday, it said D2 -- which would operate at 70 degrees west -- and its Ku-band service would supplement the Star One C2 satellite. It said D2 would provide service it originally anticipated would be provided by its C4 satellite, though Embratel declined the FCC's C4 authorization.

Dish Network's constant and false refrain that satellite systems using the 12 GHz band don't really need it, and its inability to show how incumbent satellite services in the band would be protected from mobile service interference, warrants the FCC ending the MVDDs encumbrances from the band and closing the proceeding about allowing mobile use there, SpaceX said Tuesday in docket 20-443. "SpaceX's hyperbolic response ignores the actual expert evidence in the record, which demonstrates that 500 MHz of mid-band spectrum can and should be unleashed for 5G," Dish emailed us.