Satellite Update - Nov. 21, 2008

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00564:

EchoStar Satellite Operating LLC has filed applications with the FCC regarding its service from the 148 degree west longitude (WL) orbital location after the in-orbit failure of the EchoStar 2 satellite in July. EchoStar requested authority to suspend DBS operations on Channels 2-32 (even) at that location for more than 90 days.

In another application, EchoStar requested authority to operate at 148 degrees WL using the EchoStar 5 satellite. EchoStar 5 is currently operating at 129 degrees WL under a Canadian authorization where it provides DBS service to U.S. customers. EchoStar requested permission to use all 32 DBS channels and a waiver of the DBS geographic service rules. EchoStar also requested special temporary authority (STA) for a period of 60 days, starting Jan. 15, 2009, to relocate EchoStar 5 from 129 degrees WL to 148 degrees WL. Regular DBS transmissions will be switched off during the move.

Other applications in the document include a request from Satellite CD Radio Inc. to modify its authorization for its FM-6 satellite to reflect an updated orbital disposal plan. XM Radio Inc. filed a modification application requesting a five-year extension term of its license for the XM-2 satellite.

From FCC Report SAT-00565.

The FCC granted TerreStar Networks' request to modify its 2 GHz mobile satellite service (MSS) spectrum reservation to reflect an extension of its milestones to launch its satellite TerreStar-1 from Sept. 30, 2008, to June 30, 2009, and its final milestone requirement requiring it to certify that its entire system is operational from Nov. 30, 2008, to Aug. 30, 2009. TerreStar's 2 GHz MSS uses part of the 2 GHz spectrum formerly allocated for broadcast auxiliary services such as ENG remote pickup.

EchoStar received STA to operate EchoStar 12 over DBS Channels 23 and 24 at 61.5 degrees WL for a period of 180 days, from Sept. 30, 2008, to March 30, 2009.

XM Radio Inc. was allowed to continue operating a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) terrestrial repeater in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a period of 30 days, starting Nov. 10, 2008, before bringing the repeater into compliance with its existing authorized parameters.

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.