* Celsat and ICO were certified as being in compliance with the Second Milestone Requirement for 2 GHz MSS systems. The second milestone was the Critical Design Review (CDR) and was required to be completed by July 17, 2003. Due to pending applications for modifications, CDR milestone information submitted by Boeing and Iridium will be addressed in one or more future orders. See Report SPB-203 for details.
* The FCC has granted Intelsat's application to modify the license for its Intelsat 702 satellite to operate in the 3.7 - 4.2 GHz, 5.925-6.425 GHz, 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.95 GHz, 12.5-12.75 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz bands at 54.83 degrees East Longitude (EL).
* EchoStar declined its authorization to construct, launch and operate a Ka-band satellite at 125 degrees West Longitude (WL). For information on these and other FCC satellite actions see Report No. SAT-00204.
* Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary filed an application to amend a pending application for a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) station at 63.5 degrees WL by increasing the size of the L-band service link antenna; increasing the EIRP of the satellite; increasing the potential number of L-band spot beams; and modifying the baseline air interface protocol from GMR only to GMR-2, S-cdma2000, and SW-CDMA. Mobile Satellite also requested a waiver of the bond requirement.
* SES Americom asked for a 30-day extension of its STA to test its AMC-10 C-band satellite at 146 degrees WL.
* EchoStar filed an application to construct, launch and operate a geostationary satellite in the fixed-satellite service using allotted extended Ku-band frequencies. According to the FCC Public Notice, the proposed satellite "will operate with 18 transponders each of 27 MHz usable bandwidth, meaning full frequency reuse of up to 300 MHz on both the uplink and downlink paths. The proposed satellite will operate using a broad coverage beam on the downlink that is switchable to smaller spot beams. In addition, the proposed satellite will have a pair of satellite receive beams for feeder link uplink transmissions. Both uplink beams are steerable and can be used to point to various locations in other countries. If its waiver request is granted, EchoStar envisions using one of the beams for uplink transmissions from EchoStar's feeder link earth station located at Cheyenne, Wyoming, while using the other steerable beam to uplink transmissions (including international programming) directly from other countries (e.g. Canada, Mexico and Peru). This satellite design will also enable EchoStar to share on a co-frequency basis portions of the allotted extended Ku-band with the feeder links of MSV's proposed "replacement" Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) satellite at the same orbital location. "EchoStar proposes to use the satellite to offer Direct-to-Home services, interactive services and HD content to consumers."
Additional information on these and other satellite applications can be found in Report No. SAT-0203.
The FCC cancelled the license of Leo One Worldwide, Inc. for not meeting system implementation milestones. New applications for the Leo One spectrum will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The frequencies included are 137-138 MHz, 148-150.05 MHz and 400.15-401 MHz. See Public Notice Report SPB-205 and Memorandum Opinion and Order DA 04-792.
