Satellite Update - March 18, 2010

By Doug Lung
published


From FCC Report SAT-00672 [PDF]:

  • • SES Americom requested authority to construct, launch and operate C- and Ku-band satellite SES-1 at 101 degrees West Longitude (WL). It would be used for fixed satellite service (FSS) and Direct-to-Home (DTH) service. SES-1 will replace AMC-4, currently at that location. In addition to the C- and Ku-band payloads, SES requested authority to construct and launch a 17/24 GHz broadcasting satellite service (BSS) payload on the satellite. The payload would be capable of operation in the 24.75-25.25 GHz (Earth-to-space) and 17.3-17.8 GHz (space-to-Earth) frequency bands. SES did not seek operational authority for the 17/24 GHz payload at this location. DISH Operating LLC requested special temporary authority (STA) for 180 days, commencing May 3, 2010, to relocate EchoStar 7 from 118.9 degrees WL to 118.8 degrees WL and to continue operating the DBS payload aboard the satellite while moving it. This information is from FCC Report SAT-00671 [PDF], which also has information on transfer of control applications for two Intelsat North America satellites, Intelsat 603 and Galaxy 27.


From Order and Authorization DA 10-407 [PDF]:

  • • The FCC granted, in part, Dish Operating LLC's application to construct, launch, and operate a new DBS satellite EchoStar 14 at 118.9 degrees WL. It will be colocated with EchoStar 7 and increase Dish's capacity to provide HDTV and local-into-local programming.
  • • The FCC granted DirecTV Enterprises LLC's request for STA to conduct telemetry, tracking and telecommand (TT&C) operations using 29255.00 MHz and 29497.00 MHz for command uplinks, and 18302.25 MHz and 18302.75 MHz for telemetry downlinks, during the drift of the DirecTV 12/RB-2A satellite to its authorized 102.765 degree WL orbital location. Intelsat North America received STA to operate TT&C frequencies to relocate Galaxy 27 from 129.0 degrees WL to 45.10 degrees east longitude. Dish Operating LLC was granted STA, for 60 days commencing March 20, 2010, to conduct in-orbit testing of EchoStar 14 at 138.5 degrees WL using the 12.1-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency bands and once testing is complete, to operate TT&C frequencies to drift EchoStar 14 to its assigned 118.9 degree WL orbital location.
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.