Satellite Update - Feb. 11, 2010


From FCC Report SAT-00665[PDF]:

  • • Intelsat North America sought FCC approval to use the Ku-band payload of NSS-5 at 20 degrees east longitude (EL) to substitute for the Ku-band payload of Intelsat 603, currently located at 19.95 degrees (EL). The frequency bands requested are 10950-11200 MHz, 11450-11700 MHz, 11700-11950 MHz, 12500-12750 MHz and 14000-14500 MHz. NSS-5 is currently licensed by the Netherlands.
  • • Intelsat North America has acquired ProtoStar 1 in bankruptcy proceedings and seeks authority to operate the satellite as Intelsat 25 on a non-common carrier basis. The satellite is currently licensed by Papua New Guinea and Intelsat is requesting the satellite be authorized under a U.S. license to operate at 31.5 degrees west longitude (WL). Frequency bands requested include 3400-4200 MHz, 11450-11700 MHz, and 12250-12750 MHz for space-to-Earth communication and 5845-6645 MHz and 13750-14500 MHz for Earth-to-space communications. Intelsat requested waivers of several FCC rules in both applications.


From FCC Report SAT-00664[PDF]:

  • • The FCC extended, with conditions, the license term for Satellite CD Radio's non-geostationary orbit space stations FM-1, FM-2 and FM-3, plus a ground spare. These Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) satellites are authorized to operate in the 2320-2332.5 MHz band (space-to-Earth) and 7025-7075 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. Satellite CD Radio is also authorized to use 6422-6425 MHz and 4196.375-4197.125 MHz for telemetry, tracking, and control operations.
  • • DirecTV Enterprises LLC received special temporary authority (STA) to conduct in-orbit testing of the DirecTV 12 satellite using the 18.3-18.8 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz frequency bands (space-to-Earth) and 28.35.-28.6 GHz, 29.25-29.5 GHz, and 29.5-30.0 GHz frequency bands (Earth-to-space) for 30 days commencing when DirecTV 12 arrives at the 76 degree WL orbital location.
  • • Dish Operating LLC has received STA for 180 days to operate EchoStar 1 in the 12.2-12.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 17.3-17.8 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands from 77.15 degrees WL on a non-harmful-interference basis.
  • • Iridium LLC was granted STA to continue to test and operate its Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) in the 1616-1617.775 MHz band from Feb. 5, 2010 through Feb. 15, 2010.
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.