Short Takes – 5-13-26 - Federal Register Edition

 Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband. Federal Register FCC final rule. Summary: “In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or we) adopts a Report and Order (Order) that revises the spectrum sharing framework for Geostationary Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) systems that currently relies on NGSO systems complying with Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits developed in the late-1990s. The consequence today of applying such EPFD limits in the United States is that operators must overprotect GSO systems, which in turn means that American households and businesses—most critically in rural and remote areas—do not receive the fastest space-based NGSO satellite broadband American innovation has available. Based on the technical record in this proceeding, the Order replaces the EPFD framework with modern, performance-based GSO protection criteria. The Order extends the Commission's framework for good-faith coordination and allow NGSO and GSO operators to bargain for appropriate interference protections through voluntary, private agreement. The Order further adopts technical backstops to protect GSO systems when coordination has not been reached.” 

Pipeline Safety: Request for Special Permit; Argent LNG, LLC. Federal Register PHMSA notice. Summary: “PHMSA is publishing this notice to solicit public comments on a request for a special permit for the proposed Argent LNG Project (Project) submitted by Argent LNG, LLC (Argent LNG). Argent LNG is seeking relief from compliance with certain requirements in the Federal pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA has proposed conditions to ensure that the special permit is consistent with pipeline safety. At the conclusion of the 30-day comment period, PHMSA will review the comments received from this notice as part of its evaluation to grant or deny the special permit request.” 

Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee. Federal Register PHMSA advisory committee meeting notice. Summary: “This notice announces a public meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, also known as the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), to discuss the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), titled “Safety of Gas Distribution Pipelines and Other Pipeline Safety Initiatives.””