FCC Explains Procedure for Ka-Band Satellite Applications

The FCC is giving existing Ka-band satellite space station licensees the opportunity to use orbital locations previously assigned to other licensees that had their licenses revoked or that had had their licenses revoked. Applications to modify orbital locations must be filed before noon on August 26, 2003. The FCC Pu

Author:: TVTechnology
Publish date:: Aug 17, 2003

The FCC is giving existing Ka-band satellite space station licensees the opportunity to use orbital locations previously assigned to other licensees that had their licenses revoked or that had had their licenses revoked. Applications to modify orbital locations must be filed before noon on August 26, 2003.

The FCC Public Notice International Bureau Explains Procedure for Ka-Band GSO-like Satellite Applications includes an attachment showing the orbital locations available. Several spots in the arc over the continental U.S. are now open. The list of former licensees includes Motorola, Loral Space, Hughes, PanAmSat, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and SES (GE Americom) as well as a number of less known operators. Also see the Clarification released August 15.

Rainbow DBS Co. LLC has filed applications for authority to construct, launch and operate five geostationary satellites using Ka-band frequencies. This satellite system could provide a useful platform for broadcasters' DENG and remote news applications. Rainbow said it proposes to use its satellites, Rainbow KA 1 at 6

Regulatory and Standards

EchoStar is set to rocket into orbit again with EchoStar IX, the first-ever commercial spot-beam Ka-band satellite to serve the United States, the company said. The Ka-band portion of the satellite will be used to deliver services EchoStar describes as "future broadband initiatives." The payload also includes Ku-band

The FCC said Intelsat LLC filed an amendment to an existing application for modification of its INTELSAT 702 satellite. The amendment seeks permission to relocate INTELSAT 702 to 54.85 degrees East Longitude rather than 85.15 degrees East Longitude. Intelsat LLC also filed an amendment to a pending request for extensio

EchoStar has filed applications for authority to construct, launch and operate two new satellites to provide Fixed Satellite Services to North and Central America. The orbital slots requested are 83 degrees and 121 degrees West Longitude. Both satellites would use the 13.75-14.0 GHz uplink band and the 11.45-11.7 GHz d

Although Ka band may not be used for traditional DTH broadcast in Europe, it is finding plenty of application elsewhere in the TV and video ecosystem.

PanAmSat filed an application to modify its request for authority to launch and operate Galaxy XI. The modification would change the orbital location from 91 degrees West Longitude (WL) to 191 degrees WL and change the name to PAS-2R to reflect the change in location. PanAmSat seeks authority to operate PAS-2R as a hyb

SES Americom requested a modification of its license for its AMC-5 satellite to change its orbital location from 79 degrees West Longitude (WL) to 78.95 degrees WL SES Americom also filed an application to modify its license for Satcom C-3 , which is being drifted towards its assigned location at 79 degree WL from 1

PanAmSat has requested a 180-day extension of its special temporary authority (STA) to operate the C-band and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) payloads of PAS-9 at 26.15 degrees East Longitude (EL). PanAmSat also asked for a 60-day extension of its STA to operate Galaxy IX at 127.1 degrees West Longitude (WL).