Satellite Update for June 13, 2013

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00953: “Actions Taken:”

  • The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted an application from SES Americom to modify the authorization for AMC-5 to allow operation at 80.85 degrees west longitude (WL) rather than 80.90 degrees WL, and to continue to provide fixed satellite service (FSS) from that location using 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space). The east-west station-keeping tolerance was changed from ± 0.1 degrees to ±0.15 degrees. The Satellite Division granted SES Americom's request to extend the license term through July 31, 2014.

  • An amended petition from Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. to add Satmex 5 to the FCC's Permitted List was granted, allowing use of Satmex 5 for FSS and direct-to-home service in the United States. Authorized frequency bands are 3700-4200 MHz and 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 5925-6425 MHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space).

  • ViaSat withdrew its Letter of Intent to access the United States using portions of the Ka-band at a nominal orbital location of 75 degrees WL. Other Letters of Intent remain pending, including one to access the United States using portions of the Ka-band under the authority of the United Kingdom from 70 degrees WL. ViaSat is seeking authorization to use this location for its Next-Gen broadband satellite.
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.