ICO changed its 2 GHz satellite manufacturing contract 4 times in...

give ICO 4 extra months -- until Nov. -- to build and launch its new satellite, Inmarsat said Thurs. in follow-up comments to its Dec. Petition to Deny (CD Dec 21 p13). Inmarsat deemed suspect the “evolution” of ICO’s spacecraft from a “relatively simple bent pipe design” to the current “first of its kind” design that incorporates never-before-used ground based beam forming. The Commission extends milestones only for unforseen circumstances, not to allow last-minute technology changes in a satellite design, Inmarsat said. ICO should submit its current contract and all changes for FCC review so the Commission can compare the new design to the originally licensed version, Inmarsat said. The 3rd and 4th amendments to the contract haven’t been filed at the FCC, and the first and 2nd amendments were filed with a “reverse FOIA” confidentiality request, Inmarsat said. A complete version of ICO’s contract is “essential for purposes of assessing whether ICO’s voluntary choices have given rise to its manufacturing delay,” Inmarsat said. Inmarsat asked the FCC to make ICO: (1) File complete copies of every amendment to its spacecraft construction contract. (2) Show that technology choices aren’t the cause of ICO’s satellite delay. Inmarsat also countered ICO’s argument that it can’t object to the milestone extension request. Inmarsat said it has standing under the Communications Act as an MSS competitor. Inmarsat added it’s “harmed” by ICO’s satellite manufacturing delays because it’s vying for the 2 GHz spectrum now reserved for ICO’s use.