EchoStar filed an application for authority to construct, launch and operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) using the 12.2-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.9 GHz frequency bands at the 86.5 degree West Longitude (WL) orbital location. Spectrum Five LLC filed Petitions for Declaratory Ruling requesting authorization for provide DBS services, including "local-into-local" services, to the United States using two Netherlands-authorized satellites (Spectrum 1A and Spectrum 1B located at 114.5 degrees WL. GlobalStar LLC requested authority to implement an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) for the GlobalStar Big LEO mobile satellite service (MSS) system operating above 1 GHz. GlobalStar requested permission to modify its space station license for blanket authority to construct and operate an unlimited number of ATC base stations transmitting in the 2487.5-2493 MHz band and receiving in the 1610-1615.5 MHz band, using methods similar to those currently deployed by terrestrial cellular and PCS systems. For details on these applications, see FCC Report SAT-00284.
The FCC granted XM Radio's applications to operate its Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) satellites XM-3 at 85.10 degrees WL and XM-2 (aka XM-Rock) at 115.10 degrees WL with an East-West station-keeping tolerance of +/- 0.05 degrees. Both satellites use the frequency bands 2332.5-2345 MHz (for space-to-Earth) and 7025-7075 MHz (for Earth-to-space feeder links). For more information on these and other actions, see FCC Report SAT-00285.
