[Satellite Today 07-17-08] The Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG), has filed a position paper with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing a request to allow terrestrial services in Ku-band.
    The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) has asked the FCC to allow terrestrial fixed services to operate in the 14.0-14.5 gigahertz band. SUIRG claims the proposed action poses a spectrum threat to satellite’s use Ku-band.
    “The Ku-band is critical for VSATs, SNG (satellite newsgathering) and mobile satellite services,” Bob Ames, president of SUIRG, said in a statement. “The UTC has failed to show compellingly that the proposed operations will not cause unacceptable interference to the incumbent satellite services operating in that frequency.”