Satellite Update - July 28, 2011

By Doug Lung
published


From FCC Report SAT-00795:

  • • The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted Intelsat License LLC special temporary authority (STA) to operate Galaxy 15 as an in-orbit spare at the 133.1 degree west longitude (WL) orbital location for 180 days. Intelsat is authorized to used specified C-band frequencies for telemetry, tracking and telecommand and is authorized to activate the C-band communications payloads on Galaxy 15 in the event of a service outage of an operational space station.
  • • SES Americom was granted STA to continue to operate AMC-9 at 83 degrees WL with a 0.4 degree change in the north/south orientation of its C-band reflector from the previously authorized orientation. SES Americom was also received STA to operate AMC-4 at 87 degrees WL with a 0.1 degree change in the azimuth of its North American beam from the previously authorized orientation. Both authorizations are for 60 days.
  • • Hughes Network Systems LLC declined two market access grants that would have allowed it to provide service to the U.S. Market using proposed Ka-band geostationary satellites Spaceway 5 at 109 degrees WL and Spaceway 6 at 90.9 degrees WL. Effective July 26, 2011, applicants may file applications for new space stations, market access by non-U.S. licensed space stations, modifications to licensed space stations or amendments to pending applications for the Ka-band frequencies previously granted to Hughes Network Systems at these locations.
  • • Sirius XM Radio was granted STA to continue to operate Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) terrestrial repeaters that were previously authorized to operate under separate grants of STA with an EIRP of less than 12,000 Watts (average) at various locations throughout the United States in the 2320-2345 MHz band allocated exclusively for use of SDARS.
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.