EchoStar is asking the FCC for additional life for its EchoStar 3, 12 and 16. In an International Bureau filing Thursday, EchoStar requested a 180-day extension of its special temporary authority to operate the trio at the nominal 61.5 degrees west orbital location. The company said since the FCC in 2012 approved a modification of the channels on which the satellites operate, it has granted a series of 180-day STA extensions to them, allowing them to continue operating on channels 1 and 2.

LightSquared's agreements with GPS companies Deere and Garmin and its license modification applications before the FCC obviate any need for a Transportation Department Adjacent Band Compatibility Study, LightSquared officials told DOT, FCC, Federal Aviation Administration and NTIA representatives in a meeting described in a commission ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 12-340. The LightSquared agreements and application have it relinquishing terrestrial use of 1545-1555 MHz in its LTE network while seeking shared use of 10 MHz of spectrum used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (see 1512310016). DOT workshops about the adjacent band study helped lead to the details of the coexistence agreements by helping define issues "important to both the DOT and the GPS companies," LightSquared said. That 1545-1555 MHz buffer and other license modifications should protect all other GPS companies' devices and services, LightSquared said, while any aviation concerns will be covered by a LightSquared-proposed condition that it defer to FAA standards. At the meeting, LightSquared also pressed the FCC to issue a public notice by late spring on the coexistence agreements and license modification applications so as to get input from other GPS-related businesses. Among those representing LightSquared was company board member and former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt.

Inmarsat wants to swap out its Inmarsat-3 F4 satellite for its Inmarsat-3 F5 on the FCC's list of Inmarsat satellites approved for U.S. operations in L-band frequencies. In an International Bureau filing Monday, Inmarsat said F5 is relocating from 24.6 degrees east to 54 degrees west, where F4 operates, and is expected to arrive in mid-February. F5 will operate in the same parameters and provide the same services as F4, it said.

ViaSat hopes to add the 28.1-28.35 GHz spectrum to its aeronautical earth station blanket license. In an FCC International Bureau filing Friday, the company said it hopes to use uplink frequencies in the 28.1-28.35 GHz band for its aeronautical earth stations to operate with the ViaSat-1 satellite. ViaSat said increased demand for in-flight broadband connectivity is pushing the need for more backhaul spectrum. The company's license authorizes 28.35-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30 GHz band segments for uplink communications, it said.

With critics calling for more details on how it will handle potential interference between its planned broadband terrestrial low-power service (TLPS) and adjacent unlicensed spectrum, Globalstar said Monday it will make those details available within days. "That should render any further claims for additional testing to be unnecessary," Globalstar said in a statement in response to a Public Knowledge ex parte filing posted Monday in docket 13-213. The filing recapped a meeting between PK Senior Vice President Harold Feld and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Chief Julius Knapp. PK said any service rules for TLPS could only follow more information on such issues as how Globalstar will control early-stage deployment and alert parties in particular geographic areas that its service is now active, how its network operating system will process complaints, and how to even define "unacceptable levels of interference." On interference, PK said OET "should generally rely on a behavioral definition rather than a strict engineering definition. In loose terms, 'if you don't notice it, don't worry about it.'" Globalstar hasn't provided enough engineering evidence into the record to authorize full-power outdoor use, PK said. "PK cannot at this time state what additional testing should be necessary because the record lacks critical details with regard to the implementation of the proposed interference mitigation mechanism," the group said, saying the FCC could add some clarity "by defining rules and setting a timetable and process for moving forward." In its statement, Globalstar said it has had "extensive discussions with Public Knowledge about the Commission’s proposed 2.4 GHz rules and [is] pleased Public Knowledge continues to show an interest in the Commission completing this proceeding. We take seriously Mr. Feld's view that providing additional information regarding our commercial deployment plans and how our network operating system will handle complaints of interference to other services, if any, will help move our proceeding to a successful conclusion. As Mr. Feld himself correctly observed, applicants who wish to provide new services should not be forced into 'testing hell.' After three years of full cooperation with the Commission technical experts, it is time to decide the issue and allow Globalstar to take steps that will improve Wi-Fi services for all.” Numerous critics in recent weeks have said Globalstar provided too little detail on possible interference and mitigation (see 1601070032 and 1512140046). In the same filing, on the spectrum frontiers notice of inquiry in docket 14-177, PK said it voiced concerns about the FCC's proposed geographic licensing plans in the lower bands. The agency instead should look at alternatives such as site-based licensing "and the 3.65 GHz 'licensed lite' regime," it said. "This would facilitate deployment of 5G technology while avoiding a potentially complicated overlay auction."

Dish Network, as part of its defense against robocall claims, can pursue a mistake-of-law argument, but it can't use any information not also previously provided to plaintiffs, a federal judge in Illinois ruled in an opinion filed Thursday. U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough of Springfield partially granted and partially denied motions brought by the FTC and California, Illinois, North Carolina and Ohio in their 2009 lawsuit, in which they allege violations of the telemarketing sales rule as Dish helped dealers use robocalls to deliver prerecorded messages (see 0903260144). In her opinion, Myerscough said Dish didn't initially bring up a mistake-of-law defense in its answer to the complaint, but the company's argument at summary judgment that when the calls were being made, the FTC allowed prerecorded calls to people with established business relationships to the company, "provided ... some notice of Dish's mistake-of-law defense." However, Dish can't use any evidence not provided to the plaintiffs in discovery unless it can show that failure "was substantially justified or harmless," Myerscough said.

LightSquared plans to set up an earth station in Carlsbad, California. In an FCC International Bureau filing Wednesday, the satellite company requested the Carlsbad station be added to its satellite carrier monitoring system license, alongside its already licensed hub earth station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; its six stations scattered across North America; and a U.S.-based station authorized under a separate FCC license. The California earth station, like its others, would be used to monitor signal levels from such satellites as MSAT-1, MSAT-2 and SkyTerra 1, and the link between the earth station and hub station. LightSquared also requested approval for increasing the maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power density at its Cedar Hill, Texas, earth station.

Globalstar's terrestrial low-powered service (TLPS) plans need "controlled, quantitative testing" to answer questions about how the service might affect the adjacent public Wi-Fi band, Gerst Capital said in an ex parte filing Thursday in docket 13-213. The filing recapped a meeting with a Commissioner Mike O'Rielly staffer on coexistence testing, Gerst said. Such Globalstar testing done in March was set "well below 'real world' levels," Gerst said, saying the packet error rate at those levels raises questions about what would then happen at higher levels. Gerst has been a frequent TLPS plan critic (see 1509230064). Globalstar didn't comment.

Dish Network is expanding its Hopper service offerings and adding 4K programming, it said in a series of announcements Tuesday at CES. In a news release, Dish unveiled its 64 GB mobile video drive HopperGO, which allows carrying up to 100 hours of content from a Hopper DVR for offline viewing on mobile phones and tablets via the Dish Anywhere app. The $99 HopperGO will be available later in Q1, Dish said. It also announced its Hopper 3 DVR, which will include 16 tuners, expanding the capacity for viewers to watch programming in multiple rooms or set multiple recordings. Dish also said it would integrate Google's YouTube onto Hopper 3 and it would be the first major U.S. pay-TV provider to integrate Netflix titles into its universal search (see here). The Netflix app already is integrated into Dish's Hopper set-top boxes. And Dish said in a news release that a variety of Ultra HD content will be available on its Hopper 3 and its upcoming 4K Joey via Mance Media, Netflix, Sony Pictures and The Orchard.

After adding 2.3 million net subscribers in 2015, SiriusXM expects more modest 2016 net subscriber additions of 1.4 million, it said in guidance Tuesday. The satellite radio company said it ended the year with 29.6 million subscribers, 24 million of them self-pay. It had anticipated adding 2 million net subscribers in 2015.