Blog Posts

The Balance Group's legal brief (jointly with ViaSat) challenging the FCC's approving the launch of the largest satellite mega-constellation in human history because its impacts remain largely unstudied

8/6/2021

BRIEF OF APPELLANTS VIASAT, INC. AND THE BALANCE GROUP

viasat.bg_--_opening_brief.pdf
File Size:	559 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Declarations:

1. Dr. Christopher Baddiley. Dr. Baddiley earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics from University College London (UCL) in 1973, and a B.S. with Honors in Physics from Newcastle University in 1969. Currently I teach a U3A course in astrophysics and am a Fellow with the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
2. Dr. Roger Malina. Dr. Malina earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972, and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1979. Formerly the Principal Investigator for the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite at the University of California, Berkeley, and the former director of the Observatoire Astronomique de Marseille Provence (OAMP) and of the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille in Marseille, France, and member of its observational cosmology group, which investigates the nature of dark matter and dark energy. He is currently distinguished professor of arts and technology, and professor of physics at the University of Texas at Dallas, and a Directeur de Recherche in the CNRS at the University of Aix Mareseille.
3. Mark Dankberg. Mr Dankberg is the Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman of Viasat, Inc.. He co-founded the company in 1986, and served as its CEO from 1986 until assuming his current role in November 2020. Mr. Dahlberg earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Electrical Engineering from Rice University, and is a member of the Rice University Electrical and Computer Engineering Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for my contributions to broadband internet communications via satellite.
4. Joseph Sandri. Mr. Sandri is a co-founder of Appellant, The Balance Group, and currently its operating officer. He is also Chief Executive Officer of Thought Delivery Systems, Inc., a privately held technology conglomerate based in Silver Spring, Md.; president of the National Spectrum Management Association (NSMA) (www.nsma.org); and a board member of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (www.AncientTreeArchive.org).

viasat.bg_--_opening_brief_addendum.pdf
File Size:	2542 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

August 3, 2021

8/3/2021

$65 Billion for Telecommunications Infrastructure:
Is this an opportunity to make sure that broadband infrastructure is built in a manner which protects flora and fauna?

The $1 trillion infrastructure bill moving through the Senate this week stands to be a windfall for cable and fiber-optic internet companies, with $65 billion allocated to improve internet access for poor and isolated communities. The plan would help home internet providers by providing $40 billion in grants that states can dole out to operators that expand their networks to households that lack high-speed service. AT&T plans to self-fund its fiber-optic network expansion to cover millions of new locations in the coming years. Its chief executive, John Stankey, has said government support in other areas would be “icing on the cake.” Charter Chief Executive Tom Rutledge has said the cable company can expand its network efficiently with help from government subsidies. There are still some provisions that broadband providers will likely chafe at, including proposed rules that force them to plainly disclose the service levels and prices they offer. Another provision withholds funding from carriers that suffer long network outages. But reporting and reliability requirements aren’t likely to dent the bottom lines of broadband companies that already deal with armies of regulators.
LINK: Cable, Internet Companies Stand to Gain From Broadband Funding in Infrastructure Bill | Benton Institute for Broadband & Society

New York Times: What Animals See in the Stars and What They Stand to Lose

8/2/2021

LINK: What Animals See in the Stars, and What They Stand to Lose - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Set Your Calendars:

7/30/2021

WHO:   Members Only
WHAT:  The Balance Group Webinar

-Exclusive report: Risk profiles on key existing and planned satellite and wireless networks
-Balance Group Mission Statement recap
-Early Results (prior to public release) on Balance Group Research & Development and Advocacy Initiatives

WHEN: Monday, August 23, 2021, 1:30pm Eastern (10:30am Pacific)
HOW: All Balance Group Members will be emailed a calendar invitation and participation link. Not yet a member of the Balance Group?
It is free.  Click: https://www.thebalancegroup.net/index.html#membership

The cyberattack of our nightmares: What if hackers target our satellites?

7/21/2021

Read the entire article: The cyberattack of our nightmares: What if hackers target our satellites?

Upcoming Balance Group Webinar: August 23rd, 2021

7/6/2021

Join The Balance Group for an informational webinar that will provide news about its research & development initiatives, and also progress regarding its various legal filings.
Becom a member (click the "Join Us!" or "Membership" buttons on the home page) to stay tuned on how to register for this event and join the conversation with industry leaders.

BALANCE GROUP ACTIVITIES RECAP

6/14/2021

Status Report: As of December 31, 2020, the Balance Group has met the following goals:

Established a process for conducting professional-grade radio-frequency (RF) emissions studies using calibrated instrumentation. This provides us with the ability to measure compliance with the FCC's mandated requirements (Human RF exposure and also in preventing interference into other networks).
Built tools available to the public, governments, industry, and the environmental, healthcare, and business communities for assessing radio-frequency (RF) liability protection.
These tools and processes were made available to the Balance Group through a working relationship with Cardinal Communications, and Division of Thought Delivery Systems, Inc.
Produced a system for expanding its ongoing outreach to the wireless experts in the scientific, engineering, regulatory, governmental and public interest communities.

The Balance Group Files a Notice of Appeal

5/27/2021

The Balance Group files a Notice of Appeal in the Federal Court of Appeals for the Washington DC Circuit concerning the FCC’s ruling to approve a major modification to the world's largest planned satellite network without an environmental impact assessment as required by NEPA, let alone any apparently reasonably sufficient safeguards concerning cybersecurity, insurance and other protections.

Click here to view the full document.

Opposition to SpaceX Application for Major Modification

5/26/2020

The Balance Group filed an opposition to SpaceX's application for major modifications with the FCC. The SpaceX Major Modification Application raised numerous significant and unstudied environmental issues which require the SpaceX Major Modification Application to be denied or, at a minimum, delayed until the underlying issues are properly addressed. Other concerns related to cybersecurity and insurance were also addressed.

The Balance Group Opposition also included a:

Motion for consultation with affected agencies
Motion for disclosure
Motion for certification of suitable comprehensive insurance coverage
Motion for certification of indemnity and motion to suspend or revoke licenses

Click here to view the full document on the FCC website.

Forward>>

NEWS

​BRIEF OF APPELLANTS VIASAT, INC. AND THE BALANCE GROUP

Declarations:

BRIEF OF APPELLANTS VIASAT, INC. AND THE BALANCE GROUP