Satellite Update

Hughes Communications Inc. filed an application to modify its Ka-band fixed satellite service space station authorization to operate the Spaceway 3 satellite at 94.95 degrees West Longitude (WL) to add 10 downlink beams in the 19.7–20.2 GHz frequency band to serve territory in North and South America beyond the borders of the United States.

ViaSat requested modification of its Ka-band FSS space station authorization for VIASAT-KA1 at 77.3 degrees WL to use the 28.1–28.35 GHz frequency band instead of the 29.25–29.5 GHz band in its current authorization for gateway uplink operations on a secondary basis.

EchoStar Satellite Operating Corp. filed an application to modify its EchoStar 3 DBS satellite using 12.2–12.7 GHz (space to Earth) and 17.3–17.9 GHz (Earth to space) at 61.5 degrees WL. EchoStar's current authorization expires on Jan. 27, 2008, and EchoStar is requesting an extension until Jan. 27, 2018. This information is from FCC Report SAT-00493.

PanAmSat received special temporary authority (STA) to continue to operate the Galaxy 17 C- and Ku-band satellite at 74.5 degrees WL and conduct space station telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) operations on the satellite at that location. XM Radio Inc. received STA to take test measurements of the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the transponder payloads of the XM-1 and XM-2 satellites at the frequency of 2338.75 MHz. The test transmissions must comply with all power flux density restrictions applicable to the XM-3 and XM-4 satellites, including any coordination agreements associated with operation of the XM satellites.

See FCC Report SAT-00494 for more information on these actions and on the transfer of control of numerous Intelsat and PanAmSat licenses.