Satellite Update - Oct. 8, 2009

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00636 [PDF]:

  • Pegasus Development DBS Corporation requested authority from the FCC to construct, launch and operate a 17/24 GHz Broadcasting Satellite Service (BSS) space station at 95 degrees west longitude (WL) at full power and with full interference protection using the 17.3-17.7 GHz and 17.7-17.8 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 24.75-25.25 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. Telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations would use frequencies at the edges of the requested frequency bands. In its application, Pegasus requested waivers of some FCC rules, including the geographic service requirements, as necessary.

  • DirecTV Enterprises LLC, requested authority to construct, launch and operate a hybrid satellite containing both BSS DirecTV RB-2 and Ka-band transponders. DirecTV 12 at 102.765 degrees WL. The DirecTV RB-2 BSS application was for reduced power operation without full interference protection using the 17.3-17.7 (space-to-Earth) and 24.75-25.15 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. The DirecTV 12 Ka-band application requested 18.3-18.8 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 28.35-28.6 GHz and 29.25-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. TT&C operations would be at the edges of the requested Ka frequency bands. DirecTV requested a waiver of FCC cross-polarization requirements.
  • SkyTerra Subsidiary LLC requested modification of its SkyTerra-1 1.5/1.6 GHz mobile satellite service space station to allow use of the Geostationary Mobile Satellite Adaptation and Geostationary Mobile Radio 3-G air interface protocols.
  • XM Radio has requested special temporary authority to operate a satellite digital radio service terrestrial repeater with an effective isotropically radiated power of up to 2,000 W (average) at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas using the 2332.5-2345 MHz frequency band.


From FCC Report SAT-00637 [PDF]:

  • The FCC granted a request from PanAmSat Licensee Corp. for authority to construct, launch and operate a C/Ku-band geostationary orbit satellite, Intelsat-14 at 45 degrees WL. The satellite will use the 3700-4200 MHz and 11.45.-11.95 GHz bands (space-to-Earth) and the 5925-6425 MHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands.
  • The FCC changed the status of EchoStar Corporation's application to continue to conduct TT&C operations necessary to maintain EchoStar 8 satellite at 77 degrees WL to “granted” and allowed EchoStar to operate EchoStar 8 at that location. EchoStar also received STA, for 30 days, to perform TT&C operations on a non-harmful interference basis during the relocation of EchoStar 1 to 77.15 degrees WL.
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.