Satellite Update for Feb. 8, 2013

By Doug Lung
published

From FCC Report SAT-00928 “Actions Taken”:

•The FCC International Bureau's Satellite Division granted EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation special temporary authority (STA) for 180 days to maintain EchoStar 3 as an in orbit DBS spare at 61.8 degrees west longitude (WL) using center frequencies 12.201 GHz, 12.203 GHz, and 12.699 GHz (space-to-Earth); and 17.3015 GHz (Earth-to-space).

• EchoStar received STA for 180 days to continue to operate EchoStar 15 at 61.65 degrees WL and provide DBS service on channels 1-22 and 25-32 using 17.3-17.8 GHz (Earth-to-space) and 12.2-12.7 GHz (space-to-Earth).

• The Satellite Division granted STA to SES Americom for 60 days to repoint the spot beams of AMC-16 at 85 degrees WL operating in the 18.6-18.8 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 28.4-28.6 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands. After repointing, the AMC-16 Ka-band spot beams will to cover a slightly different area than previously authorized although in aggregate they will still provide coverage of the continental United States.

• Intelsat License LLC was granted STA for 30 days to continue to conduct telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations with Intelsat 706 necessary to drift Intelsat 706 from 72.0 degrees east longitude (EL) to 157 degrees EL using specified C-band frequencies.

• Intelsat License LLC received STA for 30 days to continue to provide fixed satellite service (FSS) from Intelsat 701 at 157.0 degrees EL using 3700-4200 MHz, 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.70 GHz, 11.7-11.95 GHz and 12.5-12.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) and 5925-6425 MHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space). TT&C is authorized using specified C-band frequencies.

• The Satellite Division granted Intelsat License LLC STA for 30 days to continue to conduct TT&C operations necessary to drift Intelsat 5 from 169.0 degrees EL to 65.45 degrees EL using specified Ku-band frequencies.

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.