Federal Communications Commission. Photo: FCC

An effort by a handful of small satellite operators to prevent their relocation from the lower 200 MHz of the C-band spectrum has been denied by the FCC in a unanimous vote.

ABS Global Ltd., Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales, Hispamar Satélites S.A., and Hispasat S.A. (collectively referred to as Small Satellite Operators, SSO) filed a protest of the FCC’s Order of Proposed Modification dealing with the C-band transition and auction that would see operators in the lower 280 MHz band — including the SSOs — to relocate to the upper 200 MHz so the vacated spectrum could be sold to wireless and 5G developers. There argument was that section 316(a) of the Communication Act does not authorize the FCC to make such a change to their licenses.

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