Satellite Update

By Doug Lung
published

Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC filed an application to modify its mobile satellite service (MSS) license for MSV-1 to change its orbital location from 101 degrees west longitude (WL) to 101.3 degrees WL. MSV also requested modification of its AMSC-1 (MSAT-2) MSS satellite to change its orbital location from 100.95 degrees WL to 101.3 degrees WL.

SES Americom amended its pending application to modify the license for AMC-2 to request a waiver of Section 25210(j) of the FCC rules to operate within an enlarged east–west station-keeping range extending from 100.9 degrees WL to 101.05 degrees WL. SES Americom requested a waiver of the license for AMC-4 to allow it to operate in the same extended station-keeping range.

EchoStar Corp. requested a 180-day extension of its special temporary authority (STA) to operate a direct broadcast service over Channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5 degrees WL orbital location. This application information is from FCC Report SAT-00512.

The FCC granted EchoStar Corp.’s request to extend the term of its authorization for the EchoStar 3 direct broadcast service (DBS) satellite. EchoStar is authorized to operate EchoStar 3 at 61.5 degrees WL using frequencies in the 12.2–12.7 GHz (space to-Earth) and the 17.3–17.8 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. The authorization now expires Jan. 27, 2018.

Estrela du Sul 1 remains on the FCC’s Permitted List. The FCC determined that a transfer of control of the satellite “does not affect any of the considerations made when the satellite was initially allowed to enter the U.S. market.” The FCC also determined a transfer of control from Telesat Canada to Telesat Holdings Inc. did not justify changing the status of Anik F1, Anik F2 and Anik F3 on the Permitted List.

The FCC International Bureau’s Policy Branch granted Inmarsat Ventures Ltd. filings requesting withdrawal of petitions for reconsideration of several International Bureau actions regarding Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC.

For additional information on these and other FCC International Bureau actions, see FCC Report SAT-00513.

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.