EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) and the firm’s Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) business segment have joined with Intelsat (NYSE: I) in support of the draft Regulatory Fee Order under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the agency’s May 13, 2020, Open Meeting.
Jennifer A. Manner, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, EchoStar/Hughes, stated that the draft Order is extremely important to U.S. satellite operators, including EchoStar/Hughes as well Intelsat, as it rebalances the regulatory fee structure to ensure that foreign satellite operators providing U.S. service, like domestic operators, pay regulatory fees for the work from which they benefit. This cost allocation will have several benefits, including removing an incentive for U.S. operators to move off-shore.
Susan Crandall, Associate General Counsel, Intelsat US LLC, added, that the draft Order’s conclusion to require foreign-licensed satellite operators to pay regulatory fees is a fair result that treats all satellite operators providing service to the U.S. equally.
Together, EchoStar/Hughes and Intelsat support the draft Order and, upon adoption at the upcoming Open Meeting, anticipate a fair outcome that will advance U.S. leadership in space innovation.
