Plenty remains uncertain in the lengthy C-band debacle, yet if something is certain it is Intelsat’s dissatisfaction with the size of the FCC’s proposed payments to satellite fleet operators for repurposing spectrum for 5G services. Why else would Intelsat resort to some rather dirty tactics by threatening bankruptcy and thereby entangling the FCC and US mobile network operators in lengthy court proceedings? Such discontent is hardly surprising given Intelsat’s approximate $14 billion debt mountain and claims to have invested $36 billion in building its C-Band business over the last 40 years. Yet funds raised from auctioning C-band spectrum could rise to $14.9 billion, adding between $3.3 billion to $5.2 billion in parachute payments to cover transition costs to the upper…