Satellite Update for Aug. 15, 2013

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00966: “Actions Taken:”

• The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division announced that applications for new space stations, market access by non-U.S. licensed space stations, modifications to licensed space stations or amendments to pending applications will be accepted for the frequencies at 169 degrees east longitude (EL) previously licensed to Intelsat Licensee LLC beginning on Aug. 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The frequency bands available are 10.7-10.95 GHz, 11.2-11.45 GHz, and 11.45-11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 12.75-13.25 GHz (Earth-to-space). The Satellite Division noted that Intelsat relocated Intelsat 5 from the 169.0 degree EL orbital location in Oct. 31, 2012 and is not current operating or has it indicate any intent to operate another satellite at 169.0 degrees EL using the listed frequency bands.

• Iridium Constellation LLC was granted special temporary authority (STA) for 60 days to continue to operate its SV023 satellite as a non-transmitting spare, approximately 300 kilometers behind its SV094 satellite, and at an altitude of approximately 778 kilometers in its “Big LEO” non-geostationary satellite orbit constellation.

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.