Satellite Update - May 22, 2009

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00605:

  • The FCC granted special temporary authority (STA) allowing Intelsat North America LLC to perform tracking, telemetry and command functions with Intelsat 704 to execute end-of-life maneuvers boosting the satellite to a disposal orbit above the geostationary arc. The STA commences today and is effective for 30 days.
  • Sirius XM Radio received STA, allowing operation of two terrestrial repeaters in Harrisburg, Pa. for a period of 180 days. One repeater is authorized for an EIRP of up to 1,000 watts for use on the Sirius network (2320-2332.5 MHz) and the other, which will be used on the XM network (2332.5-2345 MHz) is authorized for an EIRP of up to 2,000 watts.
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.