The FCC said Intelsat LLC filed an amendment to an existing application for modification of its INTELSAT 702 satellite. The amendment seeks permission to relocate INTELSAT 702 to 54.85 degrees East Longitude rather than 85.15 degrees East Longitude. Intelsat LLC also filed an amendment to a pending request for extension of milestones for constructing and launching the INTELSAT 10-02 (formerly called ALPHA-2). Intelsat now requests extensions to March 2004 for construction completion and July 2004 for launch.
EchoStar has filed for a Ka-band satellite at 125 degrees West Longitude (WL) for Direct-to-Home services, two-way broadband services, interactive services and sending HD content to consumers on a non-common carrier basis. EchoStar filed an amendment to its application for a Ka-band satellite at 81 degrees W.L. to change the location to 97 degrees W.L., an orbital spot that recently became available. The FCC notice said the new location "provides better 'look-angles' for CONUS customers and permits service to Hawaii and parts of Alaska." In addition, "EchoStar has increased the number of beams on the proposed satellite to extend coverage to both of those States, as well as to the Caribbean."
SES Americom requested Special Temporary Authority to test its AMC-10 spacecraft at 146 degrees W.L. for up to 60 days after launch. AMC-10 will be the C-band replacement for Satcom C-4 at 135 degrees W.L.
More information on the above applications is available in FCC Report SAT-00182 - Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing.
PanAmSat has requested Special Temporary Authority (STA) for up to 180 days, starting Jan. 2, 2004, to continue operating the tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) payload on Galaxy VIII (I) while it performs end-of-life maneuvers to boost it to a disposal orbit above the geostationary arc. PanAmSat has also asked for a STA to move Galaxy XII from 74 degrees WL to 125.25 degrees WL and operate the TT&C payload during relocation and at 125.25 degrees. It said the communications payload will not be used during the relocation or at 125.25 degrees W.L. Information on these applications can be found in FCC Report SAT-00183 - Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing.
Finally, the FCC declared the Pegasus Development Corporation license for two Ka-band satellites at 117 degrees W.L. to be "null and void" due to Pegasus' failure to begin construction by the required date. This orbital location is now available for reassignment. See the FCC Memorandum Opinion and Order for more details on this case.
