[Satellite Today – 6-30-08] The global satellite communications sector has asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to allow terrestrial fixed services to operate in the 14.0-14.5 gigahertz band citing potential interference to fixed and mobile satellite-based services provided using the band.
    The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) called upon the FCC to dismiss a Petition for Rulemaking submitted by the Utilities Telecom Council and Winchester Cator LLC to share Ku-band spectrum, the GVF and the ESOA announced June 27.
    The satellite groups said the plan to permit shared, secondary terrestrial fixed service use of the band is "ill-conceived, technically flawed, and glaringly unjustified." The GVF and ESOA claim that the proposals by the Telecom Council and Winchester would not protect present and future fixed satellite service operations from harmful interference and likely would result in harmful interference even at modest deployment levels.