In yesterday’s Satellite Today, it was reported the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied a request by The DirecTV Group Inc. to launch and operate two geostationary satellites (DIRECTV 10 and 11) as replacements for Spaceway-2 and Spaceway-1, respectively.

The dismissal applies only to 170 MHz of spectrum at each location that was previously surrendered by DirecTV. For the remaining 830 MHz of spectrum at each location, the FCC reclassified DirecTV’s application from replacement to launch and operating authority designations, since the DIRECTV 10 and 11 satellites will be co-located with the Spaceway satellites and will not be replacing them in orbit. DirecTV will have the opportunity to apply for the surrendered 170 MHz of spectrum at each location when the agency makes it available in the future.