The FCC Hints at Increased Transparency—I’ll Learn More Downtown
In one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, George is given a project by his boss, Mr. Wilhelm, and is told to make it his “top priority” because [then New York Yankees’ principal owner] “Mr. Steinbrenner is very interested in this.” The problem, of course, is that George has no idea what the project is (watch the episode to find out why). Later, Mr. Wilhelm asks George how the project is going and asks him if he’s been downtown. Fishing for information, George asks whether the downtown trip is really necessary. Mr. Wilhelm replies, “You’ve got to go downtown, George. It’s all downtown.”
A similar mystery has arisen about a project spearheaded by the FCC, what Chairwoman Rosenworcel has dubbed a “transparency initiative” for space-related applications. The initiative, along with new rules to streamline the agency’s satellite policies and expedite space and earth station application processing, will be considered at the Commission’s September 21st Open Meeting – which, not coincidentally, will be held at the FCC’s headquarters in DOWNTOWN DC. I’ll be downtown on the 21st to find out more.
Unlike George, though, we’ve got a few insights into what the initiative could involve. Reportedly, it’s intended to help applicants understand the application process and could include seminars. So maybe a “satellite application 101” of sorts. I have no objections there, but would also welcome increased transparency in the form of the Commission providing applicants with realistic timeframes for the processing of their applications. More user-friendly online earth station and space station application forms would also be helpful. (Not to get too far in the weeds here, but a form that auto-checks technical parameters such as EIRP or PFD values to confirm that they are within the Part 25 limits would be pretty sweet.)
?
?