Satellite Update for March 3, 2014

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00997, “Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing:”

• ViaSat, Inc. filed a Letter of Intent seeking access to the U.S. market using proposed Ka-band satellite ViaSat-KA 89W which it plans to operate under authority of the United Kingdom at 88.9 degrees west longitude. ViaSat-KA 89W would provide Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) using 18.3-19.3 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 28.1-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space). ViaSat requested a waiver of Section 2.106, Footnote NG165, of the FCC rules to permit GSO FSS operations in the 18.8-19.3 GHz band on a non-conforming basis. Operations in the 28.6-29.1 GHz and 28.1-28.35 GHz bands would be on a secondary basis. Recently ViaSat withdrew Letters of Intent it had filed earlier seeking U.S. market access from the 89 degree WL orbital location.

• XM Radio LLC requested special temporary authority (STA) for 180 days to perform telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C operations necessary to drift its XM-2 Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service space station from 115 degrees WL to 27 degrees WL in preparation for deorbit maneuvers. The TT&C operations would use 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 permit XM-2 to be maintained at 27 degrees WL with a +/- 0.1 degree east-west station keeping tolerance.

From FCC Report SAT-00998, Actions Taken:

• The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted, with conditions, an application from DirecTV Enterprises, LLC to modify its authority to operate DirecTV 5 at 110.1 degrees WL using three channels in the 12.2-12.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 17.3-17.8 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands by reorienting the satellite to improve signal strength and availability in Puerto Rico.

• Intelsat License LLC was granted STA for 30 days to perform TT&C operations necessary to drift Galaxy 26 from 50.0 degrees east longitude (EL) to 49.9 degrees EL and to maintain it there after it arrives using specified C-band frequencies. Intelsat is also authorized to provide FSS from Galaxy 26 at 49.9 degrees EL using 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space).

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.