Satellite Update

By Doug Lung
published

SES Americom filed an application to modify its AMC-21 satellite to equip the satellite with two beams, one providing coverage of the Continental U.S. (CONUS), Alaska and Hawaii and another that provides coverage of the Caribbean region and the southeast portion of the CONUS. AMC-21 is a Ku-band satellite authorized to operate at the 125-degree west longitude (WL) orbital location. SES Americom also requested a waiver of Section 25.114(d)(3) requiring predicted antenna gain contour plots. This information is from Report SAT-00499.

In FCC International Bureau Satellite Policy Branch actions last week, the FCC granted PamAmSat Licensee Corporation special temporary authority (STA) to operate the SBS-6 satellite’s tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) functions necessary to drift to and operate at the 80.90 degrees WL orbital location for a period of 30 days, starting Jan. 28, 2008, using 14003 MHz (horizontal polarization) and 14497 MHz (vertical) for command operations. The frequencies 12195 MHz and 12198 MHz (both vertical and horizontal polarization) were also approved. PanAmSat received STA to drift Galaxy 17 from 74.05 degrees WL to 73.95 degrees WL using TT&C frequencies at 5925.5 MHz, 6425.5 MHz, 4197.125 MHz and 4198.875 MHz. In addition, PanAmSat was allowed to continue to operate Galaxy 17 for a period of 21 days, starting Jan. 24, 2008, using conventional C- and Ku-band frequencies.

XM Radio’s request for STA to operate a terrestrial repeater at power levels at or below 2 kW EIRP at weekly PGA Tour events in various locations from Jan. 28, 2008 through July 6, 2008 was approved.

For information on these and other actions see FCC Report SAT-00498.

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.