Satellite Update

By Doug Lung
published

EchoStar Corporation has requested Special Temporary Authority to perform telemetry, tracking and command functions during the relocation of the EchoStar 6 satellite from 110.4 degrees west longitude (WL) to 72.7 degrees WL. The STA was requested for 60 days, starting on or about July 1, 2008. Once at 72.7 degrees WL, subject to regulatory approvals, control of the satellite will transfer to Telesat Canada, under an authorization from Industry Canada. During the relocation, EchoStar 6 will transmit telemetry on 12203 MHz and 12204 MHz and receive telecommands at 17305 MHz. EchoStar requested a waiver of FCC rules to allow it to operate a telecommand beacon at 14002.5 MHz during relocation. From FCC Report SAT-00522.

In FCC Report SAT-00523 the FCC International Bureau’s Satellite division determined that EchoStar has met the “commence physical construction” milestone associated with its authorization for EchoStar-113.

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.