TWiRT 818 - What's Next After C-Band Satellite?
Friday, September 18, 2026 at 8:24AM
For more than 40 years, C-band satellite distribution has been a workhorse for radio and television broadcasters — but another big chunk of that spectrum is going away - leaving almost nothing for program distributors to use.
On TWiRT Episode 818, Mark Johnson, President of LinkUp Communications, and Marcos O’Rourke, Engineering Manager at LinkUp, join Kirk Harnack to explain what FCC 26-46 means for broadcasters still depending on C-band delivery. Mark gives us some history, explains how the FCC’s latest plans would eventually leave broadcasters with only about 40 MHz of C-band downlink spectrum, and walks us through the proposed transition timeline.
We also look at alternatives already being developed, including increased Ku-band satellite distribution and terrestrial IP delivery using capabilities built into XDS receivers. The transition won’t happen overnight, but the direction is becoming clear: broadcasters using C-band need to start thinking about what comes next. Join us for TWiRT Episode 818 as we sort through the FCC’s plans and what engineers should be watching in the months ahead.
Show Notes:
TinySA Ultra+ Spectrum Analyzer
Guests:
Mark Johnson - President at LinkUp Communications
Marcos O’Rourke - Engineering Manager at LinkUp Communications
Host:
Kirk Harnack, MaxxKonnect, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, OMG, & Akamai Broadcasting
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