Viasat, which said SpaceX's proposed second-generation constellation will likely fall outside equivalent power flux density limits (see 2203090006), is suggesting conditions on any FCC approval to address that. In an International Bureau filing Wednesday, Viasat said before any second-gen satellite launches, SpaceX should have to submit an EPFD analysis covering the 34,000 satellites in its first- and second-gen configurations, analyzing their operation as a single system. If the analysis shows SpaceX's Starlink complying with EPFD limits, it should be allowed to deploy the second-gen satellites covered by the analysis using the inputs used in that analysis, Viasat said. If the analysis doesn't show compliance, SpaceX should have to develop a plan for meeting those limits at all test points and for all orbital locations, it said. That could involve fewer Starlink satellites or fewer orbital planes, modifying power flux density or effective isotropic radiated power masks, or increasing avoidance angle, it said. Before any change to EPFD analysis inputs, such as masks or avoidance angle, SpaceX should have to do a new EPFD analysis and get FCC approval of the analysis, Viasat said. SpaceX didn't comment Thursday.

Astranis Space Technologies' Spacing Guild U.K. subsidiary wants U.S. market access for its AstranisAero West and East satellites, to orbit nominally at 83 degrees west. In two FCC International Bureau applications Tuesday, it said the small geosationary orbit satellites flagged by the U.K. would be used to provide broadband connectivity in the continental U.S. and Caribbean using the Ku band starting in mid 2023.

Commercial space operations could try to establish that it's unacceptable for nations to target civilian commercial satellites and systems, even during wars, but one hangup could be that it's not clear how International Humanitarian Law (IHL) applies in space, said Aerospace Corp.’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy in a paper Tuesday. Penned by Robin Dickey, space policy and strategy analyst, the paper said central to IHL and the Law of Armed Conflict is the idea of protecting civilians and their property. It said open questions include whether temporary interference that doesn't cause physical damage is an attack and whether commercial satellites from companies that sell services to militaries are viable military targets. Aerospace said commercial actors establishing standards and practices to protect themselves from things like cyberattacks and electromagnetic interference could also lead to international norms covering even wartime.

Due to COVID-19's supply chain effects, Viasat is asking that its Oct. 31 launch and operation milestone for its ViaSat-3 geostationary orbit high-throughput satellite be waived or extended until April 30. In an FCC International Bureau filing last week, Viasat said Boeing is testing the satellite as it's integrated to the rocket. Viasat said it worked with vendors to mitigate supply chain problems, but "these efforts have been unsuccessful in the case of Boeing." It said Boeing "has been unable or unwilling to consistently address staffing shortages, delaying its ability to complete the final stages of the ViaSat-3 construction process." It said Boeing was hampered by Los Angeles County public health directives creating "numerous intermittent and unpredictable COVID-19-related changes to working conditions." Viasat said there "was no reason ... to anticipate Boeing’s poor schedule performance at the outset of the program." Boeing didn't comment Monday.

Lynk's options for dealing with regulatory or interference limits at national borders include maintaining the location of the center of a cell beam some distance from the border so the cell edge meets the limit at or before the border, the company told the FCC International Bureau last week. It said another option is modulating the satellite's transmit power as a function of time during an overpass. Lynk said it won't operate in areas where it can't put a satellite beam consistent with regulatory thresholds. It said those thresholds will vary due to geography or jurisdiction, with there likely not being one power flux density limit that it will be subject to globally. Lynk said which option it takes will be determined in collaboration with its mobile network operator partners.

Amazon's Kuiper constellation is planning to prototype a satellite with a shade on it, and compare what kind of light pollution issues it creates vs. a satellite without, Lisa Scalpone, Kuiper head-country development, said Tuesday at Technology Policy Institute's Aspen Forum (see 2208160032). It will then outfit its fleet with whatever option makes most sense, she said.

DirecTV is seeking five more years of authorized life from the FCC for its T10 satellite, whose license term expires in September, the company said in a partially redacted FCC International Bureau extension request filed Friday. It said T10 has enough fuel remaining to operate in its orbital slot through February 2027 and then go into a disposal orbit 300 kilometers out from geosynchronous altitude. Dish Network, in challenging DirecTV criticism of opening the 12 GHz band to 5G, noted DirecTV seemingly not planning to replace several aging satellites (see 2208080047), though T10 wasn't mentioned.

Intelsat and OneWeb will partner on an in-flight connectivity service, they said Thursday. They said it's expected to be commercially available by 2024.

SES and Telesat representatives repeated their case for a broader base of regulatory fee payees, with experimental license holders and broadband internet service providers joining the fees-paying ranks (see 2203150040), per a docket 22-223 ex parte post Monday. The satellite operators joined by OneWeb also told aides to the three FCC regular commissioners the proposal to keep the 80/20 fees split between "other" and "less complex" non-geostationary orbit satellite systems "is unsupported and conflicts with the Commission’s obligation to adjust fees based on updated data."

Australia's Fleet Space wants U.S. market access under the FCC streamlined licensing procedures for four satellites slated for January launch. The company said in an International Bureau application last week authorizing the Centauri 6, Centauri 7, Centauri 8 and Alpha 1 satellites would expand industrial IoT connectivity for utilities, mining and defense applications inside the U.S. and also give Fleet Space time to iterate and perfect its industrial IoT constellation design.