Satellite Update – March 31, 2011


From FCC Report SAT-00768:

  • •The FCC granted Intelsat License LLC's application to modify its authority for C- and Ku-band Intelsat 706, allowing Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) at 72.1 degrees east longitude (EL) using conventional C-band frequencies and Ku-band frequencies 10.95-11.20 GHz, 11.45-11.70 GHz, and 12.50-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space). Telemetry tracking and telecommand (TT&C) is authorized on specified C-band frequencies.
  • •Intelsat received special temporary authority (STA) for 180 days to conduct TT&C operations with Intelsat 603 on specified C-band frequencies and to use conventional C-band frequencies and 10950-11200 MHz and 11450-11700 MHz (space-to-Earth) and 14000-14500 MHz (Earth-to-space) to provide FSS from 11.5 degrees EL.
  • •XM Radio Inc. was granted STA for 180 days to operate up to 1,000 Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) terrestrial repeaters on each of the Sirius XM and XM networks at power levels between 2 and 12,000 Watts EIRP at various locations throughout the United States. Operation will be in the 2320-2332.5 MHz and 2332.5-2345 MHz SDARS bands.
  • •The FCC granted DG Consents Sub, Inc. STA for 60 days to conduct orbit-raising maneuvers and increase the altitude of QuickBird from 450 km to 496 km and to provide Earth Exploration Satellite Service from the higher altitude.


From FCC Report SAT-00767:

  • •XM Radio and Sirius XM Radio have requested extension of the previously approves STA for SDARS repeaters with EIRPs of less than 12,000 (average) in the SDARS frequency bands.
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.