FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile "Limited" Use of 430 - 440 MHz
From today's AMSAT News Service bulletin (ANS-257):
FCC Grants AST SpaceMobile Limited Use of Amateur Radio Band
The FCC Space Bureau has granted a license to AST & Science LLC (operating as AST Space Mobile) for using the 430 440 MHz amateur radio allocation for TT&C operations for 20 additional satellites.
The FCC Space Bureau commented: At this time, to address the concerns raised by amateur radio operators and the petitioner, we issue a limited grant to AST to conduct emergency operations in the 430440 MHz bandwhen no other bands are available for the 20 additional satellites authorized herein for a period not to exceed 24 hours.
This decision is the result of over 2500 comments to the FCC by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and several International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member societies, AMSAT, and individual amateur radio operators. The IARU maintains its view that the use of Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations is inappropriate in this matter, in particular as there are existing allocations in the UHF spectrum for Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) operations.
There are no technical or operational requirements for AST & Science LLC to intrude the 430440 MHz spectrum which is a primary amateur and amateur satellite service allocation in ITU Region 1 and in several countries in Region 2.
The IARU and its member societies will continue to monitor the further development of this issue. As a sector member of ITU‑R, the IARU will contribute towards improving the respective process concerning Article 4.4.
The IARU is grateful for the support and contributions from our member-societies.
[ANS thanks IARU for the above information.]
