Satellite Update for August 29, 2014

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-01037, “Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing”

Hispasat, S. A. filed a notification of change in ownership of HISPASAT-1D, AMAZONAS-2, and AMAZONAS-3, all of which are on the Commission's Permitted Space Station List. On Nov. 12, 2013, Abertis Telecom Satélites, S.A.U. increased its ownership in Hispasat, S.A. from 40.6 percent to 57.05 percent. The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division is seeking comment on whether this transaction affects any of the considerations made when the space stations were added to the Permitted List. HISPASAT-1D is licensed by Spain, while AMAZONAS-2 and AMAZONAS-3 are licensed by Brazil.

From FCC Report SAT-01038, “Actions Taken”

The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted, with conditions, an application from EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation for special temporary authority (STA) to continue operating EchoStar 3 to provide Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (DBS) over channels 1 and 2 at 61.8 degrees west longitude (WL) for 180 days. EchoStar 3 was launch almost 17 years ago, on October 5, 1997.

EchoStar was also granted STA for EchoStar 12 at 61.35 degrees WL and STA for EchoStar 16 at 61.5 degrees WL to continue providing DBS over channels 1 and 2 for 180 days.

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.