Northpoint Pushes Compass DBS System

Northpoint Technology, the Washington, D.C.,-based company developing a terrestrial wireless system using DBS frequencies, has been meeting with commissioners and staff at the Federal Communications Commission to discuss its proposed satellite service.

The company has been pushing its Compass DBS system, which would supplement its wireless offering, at the Portals since its introduction this past Spring. During a meeting with Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy last week, Northpoint officials asked that the FCC place the Compass DBS proposal on public notice.

Northpoint executives pointed out that the FCC has moved on SES Americom's DBS proposal, which would put a satellite at 105.5 degrees if SES' plans win approval. During its FCC meetings, the company also raised concerns with the reassignment of Western orbital DBS locations to EchoStar. The Compass/Northpoint meetings are described in various ex parte filings at the commission.

In April, the commission approved spectrum-sharing in the DBS band, a service being developed by Northpoint and others, known as the Multichannel Video and Data Distribution Service (MVDDS). Satellite interests fought the spectrum-sharing move, concerned that the wireless services would interfere with their offerings.

From SkyReport (Used with Permission)