Satellite Update — July 30, 2009

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From FCC Report SAT-00619 [PDF]:

• The FCC denied a request from DirecTV Enterprises LLC to substitute Pegasus Development DBS Corporation as the applicant in DirecTV's pending application for a geostationary 17/24 GHz broadcasting satellite service (BSS) space station at 107 degrees west longitude (WL) location. In the Memorandum Opinion and Order (DA-09-1625) [PDF] the FCC said, "We find that DirecTV's request is inconsistent with Section 25.158(c)1 of the Commission's rules that prohibits an applicant from transferring, assigning or otherwise permitting any other entity to assume its place in the satellite application licensing queue. Although we find no reason to assume that DirecTV and Pegasus designed their proposal for speculative purposes, we find that granting a waiver of Section 25.158(c) would nevertheless undermine the purpose of that rule."

• In a separate Order and Authorization (DA 09-1624) [PDF], the FCC granted DirectTV's application to construct, launch and operate a 17/24 GHz BSS space station at 102.825 degrees WL at a reduced power and without full interference protection. DirecTV is authorized to operate in the 17.3–17.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and the 24.75–25.15 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. In the Order and Authorization the FCC said, "We believe that grant of this application will stimulate competition in the United States and provide consumers more alternatives in choosing communications services."

• The FCC granted PanAmSat Licensee Corporation special temporary authority (STA) to drift its C- and Ku-band satellite Intelsat 3R from 43 degrees WL to 43.1 degrees WL and provide fixed satellite service (FSS) in the 3700–4200 MHz (space-to-Earth), 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space), 11.7–12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and the 14.0–14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. PanAmSat is also allowed to use 12.5–12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) except in Region 2. PanAmSat was also allowed to conduct the space station telemetry, tracking and control operations necessary to effect the drift to and operations at 43.1 degrees WL. The STA is valid for 180 days starting Aug. 1, 2009.

• The FCC International Bureau determined TerreStar Networks Inc. has met the launch and operations milestone associated with the authorization for TerreStar-1 and that TerreStar may release the bond for TerreStar-1.

• The FCC granted a request from Sirius XM Radio Inc. to designate its application for special temporary authority to operate terrestrial repeaters in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as "permit-but-disclose" for the purpose of the FCC's ex parte communications.


Doug Lung
Doug Lung
Contributor

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack. A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.