DirecTV Fined for Unauthorized Satellite Move

[Gregg Lengling]

On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission proposed an $87,500 forfeiture against DirecTV for repositioning its DirecTV 3 satellite without FCC authorization.

FCC rules require DirecTV to get FCC approval before repositioning the satellite from its authorized orbit to a location for which it was not licensed. The FCC said in a statement that DirecTV had filed a request for special temporary authority to relocate the spacecraft, but admitted that employees began repositioning the satellite without waiting for FCC approval.

All five FCC commissioners approved the fine.

The FCC said in a statement that satellite companies must adhere to rules governing modification of satellite authorizations to minimize the risk of collisions between satellites.

DirecTV admitted the mistake. "When we became aware that DirecTV 3 had been repositioned without FCC authorization, we immediately informed the commission. We accept full responsibility for the error and have taken steps to prevent this type of incident from happening in the future," the company said.