The FCC granted part of EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation's amended application to construct, launch and operate a direct broadcast satellite, EchoStar 10 at 110 degrees west longitude. EchoStar is now authorized to operate EchoStar 10 at 110 degrees with feeder links (Earth to space) in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band on DBS channels 2-7, 9-27, 29 and 31 and services links (space to Earth) in the 12.2-12.7 GHz band on DBS channels 4, 12, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 26. The FCC deferred action on EchoStar's request to operate service links on DBS channels 27, 29, and 31 at 110 degrees WL.
Star One SA's hybrid C and Ku-band satellite Star One C1, located at 65 degrees WL was added to the FCC's Space Station Permitted List. The satellite is licensed by Brazil. U.S. licensed earth stations with "ALSAT" designated as a point of communications are now authorized to provide Fixed Satellite Services in the 14000-14500 MHz (Earth to Space), 11700-12200 MHz (space-to-Earth), 5925-6425 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 3700-4200 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency bands to, from, or within the United States using the Star One C1 satellite.
EchoStar received special temporary authority to relocate EchoStar 6 from 110.2 degrees WL to 110.35 degrees WL, with plus or minus 0.05 degree longitudinal station keeping.
For more information on these actions, see FCC Report SAT-00351. A few obvious typos in this Public Notice have been corrected.
The FCC granted an application from New Skies Satellite Holdings Ltd. (transferor) and SBS Global S.A. (transferee) to transfer control of authorizations held by New Skies Networks Inc. The transfer includes non-U.S. licensed satellites NSS-5 at 177 degrees WL, NSS-7 at 22 degrees WL and NSS-806 at 40.5 degrees WL. The FCC allowed these satellites to remain on its Space Station Permitted List. Other satellites included in the transfer are NSS-6 at 95 degrees EL, NSS-703 at 57 degrees EL and NSS-8, which is due for launch in 2006.
For more information, refer to the FCC Public Notice DA 06-699.
An article in Radio Magazine "AMC-8 Satellite Experiencing Power Problems" reported that three power circuits failed in the AMC-8 satellite, which is used by many radio broadcasters for distribution. Although SES Americom had no reports of problems with the satellite posted on its Web site, the article was picked up and expanded on in articles in FMQB, Billboard Radio Monitor and by Robert Gonsett's CGC Communicator. The Sat-Index.com's listing of satellite outages and failures, which did report on the Optus B1 failure (see separate story), showed nothing for AMC-8 as of April 4. Stay tuned for additional information on the AMC-8 situation.
