Satellite Update for April 3, 2014

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-01005, "Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing:"


• XM Radio LLC requested special temporary authority (STA) for 180 days to perform telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations necessary to drift XM-1 from 115.25 degrees west longitude (WL) to 27 degrees WL in preparation for de-orbiting maneuvers using the following center frequencies: 2339.2 MHz, 2339.7 MHz, 2344.0 MHz, 2344.5 MHz (space-to-Earth); and 7049.0 MHz and 7074.0 MHz (Earth-to-space). XM Radio requested a waiver of FCC rules to allow station-keeping at 27 degrees WL with a +/- 0.1 degree east-west tolerance. XM-1 is licensed in the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS).

From FCC Report SAT-01006, "Actions Taken:"

• The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted an amendment to Orbcomm License's pending application seeking to modify its authorization for its non-geostationary mobile satellite service "Little LEO" system. Orbcomm received authority to modify the target orbital inclination of 17 satellites from 51.6 degrees to 47 degrees, with a target operational orbital altitude of 715 kilometers. In light of the imminent launch of six satellite, the Satellite Division partially waived the fourth milestone in the Orbcomm Next Generation License, with the waiver limited to the six satellite proposed for imminent launch.

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

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.