#1 (**permalink**) 12th August 2008, 05:08 PM

What's 10 Minutes? A Big Deal for EchoStar

It may seem like minute-by-minute nit-picking between satellite giants, but EchoStar asked the Federal Communications Commission last week to ignore Intelsat's request to dismiss its application for access to satellite spectrum.

At issue is a public notice from the FCC that made available C-Band frequencies at the 85-degree orbital location. The FCC released the public notice the morning of May 23.

EchoStar (the satellite and technology company - not DISH) said it filed an application for fixed satellite service from the location at 10:50 a.m. on May 23. Intelsat later filed a motion to dismiss the EchoStar application, saying the application window didn't open until 11 a.m.

EchoStar told the FCC in its filing that there is no rule establishing 11 a.m. as the appropriate time to file first-come, first-served applications. There also was no mention in the public notice about an 11 a.m. filing time, the company said.

In its filing, EchoStar argued that it filed its application first and the company "should not be unfairly punished for following the process set forth by the International Bureau in the public notice."

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