EchoStar Corporation and its Hughes Network Systems, LLC business segment join with Intelsat in support of the draft Regulatory Fee Order under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission for its May 13, 2020, Open Meeting.
Jennifer A. Manner, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, EchoStar/Hughes stated: "The draft Order is extremely important to US satellite operators, including EchoStar/Hughes as well Intelsat, as it rebalances the regulatory fee structure to ensure that foreign satellite operators providing US 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 US operators to move off-shore."
Susan Crandall, Associate General Counsel, Intelsat US LLC, stated: "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 US 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 US leadership in space innovation.