Attachment KaStarCom consolidat

KaStarCom consolidat

OPPOSITION submitted by KASTARCOM

Consolidated Opposition

2001-07-12

This document pretains to SAT-AMD-20010607-00050 for Amended Filing on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATAMD2001060700050_1178568

                                       Before The
                        Federal Communications Commission             JUL 1 3
                               Washington, D.C. 20554                               2007
                                                                   %         Toug

                                                          )             OTheseopeaitihcou,
In the matter of:                                         )
                                                          )
KaStarCom World Satellite, LLC                            )    SAT—AMD—20010607—00050
                                                          )    SAT—LOA—19980312—00018
Amendment to                                              )                          ;
Application for Launch and Operating Authority            )

To:    Chief, International Bureau                                    Received

                                                                      K 1—7 2001
                             CONSOLIDATED OPPOSITION               Sateilite Policy
                                                                   ,thbmt,:war:anSn




                                          KASTARCOM WORLD SATELLITE, LLC




                                          Stephen E. Coran
                                          Sarah E. Stephens

                                          Rini, Coran & Lancellotta, P.C.
                                          1350 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
                                          Suite 900
                                          Washington, D.C. 20036
                                          (202) 296—2007

July 13, 2001                             Its Attorneys


                                           Summary

        KaStarCom World Satellite, LLC ("KaStarCom") hereby opposes the petitions to

deny its "amendment" filed by Pegasus Development Corporation ("Pegasus") and

DirectCom Networks, Inc. ("DirectCom"), and requests grant of its application with the

preferences most recently stated in its June 7, 2001 response to Commission staff request

("KaStarCom Letter").

        In the KaStarCom Letter, KaStarCom re—affirmed its previously—stated preference

for allocation of the 73° W.L. (500 MHz), 109.2° W.L.(500 MHz) and 111° W.L. (1000

MHz) orbital locations in the ongoing second Ka—band processing round. Pegasus and

DirectCom argue that the KaStarCom Letter is a "major" amendment subject to the cut—

off protections of Section 25.116(c) of the Commission‘s Rules because the change in

orbital locations from KaStarCom‘s application and the "addition" of a third slot would

increase frequency conflicts.‘     Pegasus also asserts that KaStarCom‘s proposal would

exceed the limitation on full—CONUS slots.

        Both Pegasus and DirectCom fail to appreciate that KaStarCom‘s long—standing

stated orbital preferences would reduce frequency conflicts and thus are permissible

exceptions to the general rule of Section 25.116(c). First, because KaStarCom plans to

share its satellites at 73° W.L. and 109.2° W.L. with those of WB Holdings 1, LLC

("WildBlue"), a current Ka—band licensee, KaStarCom‘s proposal reduces from two to

one the number of additional satellites that will be launched through grant of its second—

round application. This creates an additional slot for other participants in the second or

subsequent processing rounds.


        ‘ DirectCom limits its challenge to only the 109.2° W.L. location, and does not oppose the
assignment of the 73° W.L. and 111° W.L. slots to KaStarCom.


         Second, Pegasus and DirectCom ignore the Commission‘s prevailing policy of

 waiving strict enforcement of its processing rules where, as is the case here, all filers can

 be accommodated.      In the first Ka—band processing round, the Commission assigned

 orbital slots to applicants that differed from those they originally sought. In so doing, the

* Commission waived its rules requiring financial qualification, prohibiting changes to

 orbital locations and limiting the number of slots — CONUS or otherwise — available to

 applicants. Some first—round applicants, such as Comm, Inc., secured more than two full—

 CONUS slots. There has been no evidence to suggest that the Commuission has altered

 these policies.   Indeed, efforts by Pegasus and DirectCom to change their originally—

 specified orbital locations, but not permit KaStarCom to do so, smack of hypocrisy and

 have no merit. The Commission‘s rules and policies cannot be selectively enforced to the

 detriment of KaStarCom and the transparent benefit of Pegasus and DirectCom.

        Third, it should be noted that KaStarCom has stated a preference for an

 encumbered orbital slot at 109.2° W.L. This location is less than 2° from KaStarCom‘s

 other preferred slot at 111° W.L. With both of these locations authorized to KaStarCom,

 there should be no question about short—spacing interference. Such would not be the case

 were the 109.2° W.L. slot assigned to DirectCom.

        Finally, assigning KaStarCom the 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. orbital

 locations would lead to fast and efficient use of orbital resources. By sharing satellites

 with WildBlue at 73° W.L. and 109.2° W.L., satellites can be placed in service sooner; by

 not assigning these slots, the spectrum will lay fallow until the conclusion of some future

 processing round. The public interest thus supports assignment of the 73° W.L., 109.2°

 W.L. and 11 1° W.L. slots to KaStarCom.




                                              —if—


                                                                             Table of Contents

                                                                                                                                                                                       Page

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I. KaStarCom‘s Orbital Preference Unquestionably Should Be Considered in the
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          applicant under the Ka—band pPrOC@SSIMS POIHCIG@S. ..............222200002c2006eee e rreerreeerrerrerreels. 9

II. Assignment Of The Orbital Locations Described In The KaStarCom Letter
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                                                                                           iii~


                                            Before The
                             Federal Communications Commission
                                     Washington, D.C. 20554


In the matter of:

KaStarCom World Satellite, LLC                                                 SAT—AMD—20010607—00050
  to
                                                                               SAT—LOA—19980312—00018
Amendment to
Application for Launch and Operating Authority

To:      Chief, International Bureau



                                   CONSOLIDATED OPPOSITION


        KaStarCom World Satellite, LLC ("KaStarCom"), by counsel, hereby submits its

Consolidated Opposition to the Petitions to Deny filed by DirectCom Networks, Inc.

("DirectCom" and "DirectCom Petition") and Pegasus Development Corporation ("Pegasus" and

"Pegasus Petition") against KaStarCom‘s above—referenced "amendment" that re—affirmed its

preference for the 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. orbital locations in the second Ka—band

processing round.‘         As will be demonstrated herein, the Petitions are without merit, and

KaStarCom‘s application, with the preferences listed most recently in its June 7, 2001 letter (the

"KaStarCom Letter"), should be granted without delay."




          _ See Public Notice, Report No. SAT—00073, released June 19, 2001; see Letter dated June 7, 2001 from
Stephen E. Coran, Esq. to Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary of the FCC (the "KaStarCom Letter"). In addition, TRW
Inc. ("TRW") filed a letter supporting KaStarCom‘s preferred orbital locations. See Letter dated July 5, 2001 from
Stephen D. Baruch, Esq. to Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary of the FCC. KaStarCom will of course abide by FCC
rules in coordinating with TRW to ensure that short spacing between 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. does not cause
impermissible interference to TRW‘s proposed use of 113° W.L.

             The KaStarCom Letter was filed by counsel at the express request of Commission staff to confirm
KaStarCom‘s interest in the slots designated for KaStarCom in the Majority Plan and the Revised Majority Plan in
order to assist in the resolution of the second Ka—band processing round.


                                                       Introduction

        For more than two years, participants in the second Ka—band processing round have had

numerous discussions and meetings designed to achieve a voluntary private settlement of orbital

loeations. These negotiations, encouraged by Commission staff, followed the process that led to

a successful resolution of the first Ka—band processing round in 1997.                        In May 1997, the

Commussion issued orders granting first—round authorizations and, in so doing, explicitly or

implicitly waived its financial qualification, orbital slot limitation and "major" amendment rules.

        On August 11, 2000, KaStarCom and the vast majority of other second—round participants

filed the Majority Plan in which KaStarCom formally indicated its preference for the 73° W.L.,

109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. locations.‘ Pegasus and DirectCom joined with CAI Data Systems,

Inc. in submitting a Minority Plan. On November 1, 2000, the original parties to the Majority

Plan, joined by PanAmSat Corporation, submitted the Revised Majority Plan, again identifying

the 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. slots for KaStarCom. Significantly, both the Revised

Majority Plan and the Minority Plan revealed that there are a sufficient number of available

slots to accommodate all second—round participants.                 In fact, as Hughes Network Systems

observed in its June 26, 2001 letter to the Commission, it appears that only the 109.2° W.L. slot

is contested, with full—CONUS slots still available.*
        On June 7, 2001, at the express request of Commussion staff, KaStarCom filed the

KaStarCom Letter to re—affirm its interest in the 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. slots it

identified in the Majority Plan and the Revised Majority Plan. KaStarCom also stated that it


        > Given KaStarCom‘s unwavering written statements as far back as August 2000 favoring assignment of
the 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. slots, DirectCom‘s characterization of the KaStarCom Letter as a "last
minute" or "eleventh hour" change rings hollow. See DirectCom Petition at 3, 4, 7, 9. DirectCom and other second—
round participants have had ample opportunity to comment on the proposal. Indeed, it is DirectCom that is
belatedly challenging KaStarCom‘s long—standing preferences.

        * See Letter from Joslyn Read to Donald Abelson, Chief, International Bureau, at 2.
                                                   2


would share the 73° W.L. and 109.2° W.L. slots with WB Holdings 1, LLC ("WildBlue"), a first—

round licensee authorized with 500 MHz at each such location, and explained the nature of their

relationship in the operation of the shared satellites." The net result is that grant of KaStarCom‘s

preferred orbital locations would reduce the number of satellites being launched into space,

thereby increasing the number of unencumbered orbital slots available to the other second—round

participants.    This result attains because, instead of launching at 52° E.L. and 175° W.L., as

KaStarCom proposed in its 1997 application, KaStarCom would operate at a single location —

111° W.L. — and would jointly own satellites at the 73° W.L. and 109.2° W.L locations.

                                                         Discussion

1.       KaStarCom‘s Orbital Preferences Unquestionably Should Be Considered in the
         Second Processing Round.

         DirectCom and Pegasus contend that acceptance of KaStarCom‘s request for orbital

locations 73° W.L., 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. would impermissibly increase frequency

conflicts, increase the number of satellites and propose changes to KaStarCom‘s initially—

requested orbital locations in violation of Section 25.116(c) of the Commission‘s Rules.

DirectCom objects specifically to KaStarCom‘s preference for the 109.2° W.L. slot in light of

DirectCom‘s self—proclaimed interest in that same location. Pegasus argues that KaStarCom‘s

shift from the 52° E.L. and 175° W.L. slots identified in its application would place KaStarCom

in violation of the Section 25.140(e) limitation on the initial assignment of full—CONUS slots.

As a result, DirectCom and Pegasus state that the "amendment" requires consideration in a

further processing round rather than alongside the other second—round Ka—band filings.



         °* As both DirectCom and Pegasus are aware, all of the plans submitted to the Commission proposed
different slots for a large number of the second—round participants. Those applicants were not, to KaStarCom‘s
knowledge, asked to "amend" their applications. Nor were amendments required as part of the settlement of the first
Ka—band processing round. In light of KaStarCom‘s proposal to share its satellite slots with WildBlue, it can only be
assumed that this relationship formed the basis of the Commission staff‘s decision to elicit comments on
KaStarCom‘s proposal — and no other. Otherwise, nearly every application would be deemed "amended" by the
preferences expressed in the orbital plans.
                                                     4
                                                     J


         Both DirectCom and Pegasus misapply Commission rules and ignore long—standing

Commission policies.        Section 25.116(c) permits such an amendment "where the amendment

resolves frequency conflicts with . . . pending applications but does not create new or increased

frequency conflicts."      Moreover, in addition to applying the exceptions to the cut—off rule,

citcumstances such as these where the number of available orbital slots exceeds the number of

applications, the Commission will waive its rules to permit all applicants to be accommodated.©

More specifically, the Commission historically has waived its rules to accept changes in orbital

slot preferences regardless of each applicant‘s initial request, and treats all orbital locations,

CONUS and non—CONUS, as fungible.

        Even if th‘e Commission were to find that a specific waiver of the cut—off rule is necessary

in this case, the public interest in reducing congestion of the Ka—band orbital locations and

frequencies compels grant of a waiver. Grant of KaStarCom‘s preferred orbital locations will

increase the number of unencumbered orbital slots available to other Ka—band filers, reduce the

number of satellites launched into space and promote prompt construction of Ka—band facilities.

Given that there are enough orbital locations available to accommodate the second round

participants and the obvious efficiencies embodied in KaStarCom‘s proposal, DirectCom and

Pegasus have provided no reason for the Commission to reverse the processing policies that have

been in force since the first days of the Ka—band service.




          ° See Amendment of the Commission‘s Rules to Allocate Spectrum for, and to Establish Other Rules and
Policies Pertaining to, a Radiodetermination Satellite Service, 104 FCC 2d 650, 60 RR 2d 298, 308 (1986); Norris
Satellite Communications, Inc., 7 FCC Red 4289, 71 RR 2d 187, 189—90 (1992) ("Norris Satellite").
                                                   4


         A. Orbital location preferences may be changed during a Ka—band processing
             round.

         In asserting that KaStarCom‘s proposal would increase the number of satellites and thus

increase interference, DirectCom and Pegasus conveniently ignore the fact that KaStarCom‘s

proposal reduces from two to one the number of additional satellites that will be launched

th;ough grant of its second—round application. Far from increasing interference, this would free

up an orbital slot for another second—round (or subsequent—round) participant, thereby reducing

congestion and the potential for interference among Ka—band applicants.

        Acceptance of KaStarCom‘s request for different orbital locations in the second

processing round is clearly consistent with long—standing policies.                 In Norris Satellite, the

Commission waived its financial qualification rules, stating that a waiver would promote use of

the Ka—band spectrum without "preclud[ing] additional entities from implementing their own

systems in [the Ka—] band."‘          The Commission noted that Ka—band spectrum would "remain

fallow if the standard is not waived.""          Consistent with this precedent, in the first Ka—band

processing round, the International Bureau (the "Bureau") did not attempt to hold applicants to

their initial orbital location proposals." Instead, the Commission adopted the orbital assignment

plan that reflected the settlement that had been reached by the applicants in the processing

round.""    DirectCom and Pegasus provide no evidence that there has been a change in this



        ‘ Norris Satellite, 71 RR 2d at 189.

        ® Id. at 190.

         ° For example, first—round applicants EchoStar Satellite Corp., GE American Communications, Inc.,
Lockheed Martin Corp., Loral Aerospace Holdings, Inc. Morning Star Satellite Co., LL.C., Visionstar, Inc. and
NetSat 28 were ultimately authorized at full—CONUS orbital locations different from those proposed in their
respective applications. See Public Notice, Report No. SPB—29 (DA 95—2273), released November 1, 1995;
Assignment of Orbital Locations to Space Stations in the Ka—Band, Order, released December 19, 1997 (DA 97—
2654) ("Final First—Round Order‘);,

         * See Final First—Round Order; Assignment of Orbital Locations to Space Stations in the Ka—Band, Order,
released May 9, 1997 (DA 97—677); Order, 11 FCC Red 13737 (1996) ("Initial First Round Order").

                                                   5


policy."‘ Indeed, the statements of Commission staff at the April 4, 2001 meeting of second—

round participants, including DirectCom and Pegasus, confirmed that the policy is very much

alive.

         DirectCom incorrectly asserts that the circumstances presented in Srarsys are analogous

to—those presented here." In Starsys, a first round applicant for non—voice, non—geostationary

("NVNG") Low—Earth Orbiting ("LEO") MSS facilities sought to add frequencies after all of the

first—round applicants had entered into an agreement ("Sharing Agreement") contemplating

operation on other frequencies, the Commission had adopted final rules for the NVNG service

based on the Sharing Agreement and a second NVNG processing round had commenced and

been cut—off. Given the existing Sharing Agreement, which the applicant had itself entered into,

and the reliance of second round applicants on availability of the frequencies sought by Starsys,

the Bureau ruled that Starsys‘ request to add frequencies was a major amendment that must be

considered in the second round.

         Here, unlike the case in Starsys, KaStarCom and DirectCom are participants in the same

ongoing processing round with contemporaneous claims to the 109.2° W.L. orbital location.

Unlike the case in Starsys, KaStarCom has not previously entered into an agreement with other

applicants to operate from a location other than 109.2° W.L. and, in fact, has joined with the

majority of Ka—band applicants supporting its preference for this orbital location. DirectCom and

other applicants have had formal notice of KaStarCom‘s preferences since at least August 2000

when the Majority Plan was filed (and informal notice in the months preceding that filing in the

context of the settlement discussions among the filers). Unlike the case in Starsys, there are no



           _ There is no basis for DirectCom‘s suggestion that KaStarCom, and only KaStarCom, must accept its
initial orbital locations because they are available. See DirectCom Petition at 9. Apparently, DirectCom would not
apply this theory to its own situation.

         " Starsys Global Positioning, Inc., 11 FCC Red 1237 (1995); DirectCom Petition at 6, 8.

                                                   6


third round applications filed in reliance on second—round assignments, which have not been

made.       Starsys thus provides no basis for the Commission to suddenly overturn its satellite

application processing round policies and deem the KaStarCom Letter a major amendment.

        The facts presented here also contrast with the situation in VZT4, cited by Pegasus, where

Section 25.116 was strictly applied to an amendment proposing to add frequencies.14 In VZT4,

the applicant proposed to add a new satellite that would occupy a vacant orbital slot.                               By

contrast, KaStarCom here proposes to adjust its orbital slots to permit the efficient sharing of

satellites, resulting in the use of three orbital slots instead of four. Furthermore, as discussed

above, the Commuission‘s policies for processing Ka—band applications permit applicants to

change orbital locations during the processing round.

        Its protestations notwithétanding, DirectCom clearly has no greater rights to 109.2° W.L.

than does KaStarCom.           DirectCom claims that KaStarCom‘s orbital assignment preferences

create rather than resolve frequency conflicts by conflicting with one of its alternative orbital

preferences."     This ignores the fact that KaStarCom‘s preference for the 109.2° W.L. slot

resolves the potential for interference to others by placing the short—spaced 109.2° W.L. and 111°

W.L. orbital locations in the hands of a single licensee.                   Less can be said of DirectCom‘s

similarly—situated preference for 109.2° W.L. which would be short—spaced to KaStarCom‘s

proposal for 111° W.L.         To be clear, assignment to KaStarCom of its preferred slots would

decrease congestion in the Ka—band arc and resolve frequency conflicts among the second—round

participants.




        "_In contrast to the situation here, Starsys involves a request to add frequencies, not orbital locations.

        4 Volunteers in Technical Assistance, 12 FCC Red 13995 (1997); Pegasus Petition at 5 n.16.

        "   DirectCom Petition at 7.


       Incredibly, DirectCom argues that it has greater rights to 109.2° W.L. because it was

forced off its purported pre—filing preferred locations of 93° W.L. and 103° W.L. by the FCC‘s

actions in reassigning those slots on the eve of the second—round Ka—band cut—off date.""

However, DirectCom itself requested 107° W.L. and 117° W.L. — not 109.2° W.L. — when its

puwrported pre—filing preferences became unavailable.""‘ Though unfortunate for DirectCom and

perhaps other filers, the reassignment of the 93° W.L. and 103° W.L. slots is a matter entirely

separate from whether KaStarCom should be allowed to change its orbital preferences to include

109.2° W.L. during the processing round, as has always been the case throughout the

Commission‘s Ka—band processing.

       Finally,         KaStarCom notes   with some curiosity that DirectCom complains       of

KaStarCom‘s preference for 500 MHz at 109.2° W.L. when two full—CONUS orbital locations

with 1000 MHz of spectrum, 117° W.L. and 119° W.L., would be available to DirectCom under

both the Minority Plan and the Revised Majority Plan. The Commussion clearly should not be

swayed by DirectCom‘s threat to insist on a second 1000 MHz full—CONUS slot," since such a

slot is available and in fact was designated for DirectCom in the Revised Majority Plan despite

its non—participation in the Plan. Given the availability of a full 1000 MHz at two full—CONUS

locations, DirectCom‘s allegations against KaStarCom, as well as its feigned surprise at the

contents of the KaStarCom Letter, appear to be less than genuine.




       *    Id. at 2.
       17   [d




       ® 1d at 10.


         B.   More than two full—CONUS orbital locations may be assigned to a single
              applicant under the Ka—band processing policies.

         DirectCom and Pegasus likewise are mistaken in claiming that KaStarCom improperly

seeks three full—CONUS orbital locations. As discussed above, pursuant to the Commission‘s

long—standing policies for processing Ka—Band applications, where sufficient orbital slots are

available, the Commission allows and in fact encourages applicants to negotiate orbital locations

privately, without regard to the initial orbital slot proposals before the rCC."

        In the first round, the Bureau, without comment, waived the Section 25.140(e) restriction

on the initial assignments of more than two CONUS orbital locations. For example, Comm, Inc.

(Motorola) received four full—CONUS assignments." °                   Consistent with Norris Satellite, the

Commission also expressly waived its financial qualification rules in the first Ka—band

processing round, noting that, "[i]n cases where we can accommodate all pending applications

and where there is sufficient remaining capacity to address additional requests that may arise, we

have not looked to current financial ability as a prerequisite to a license grant.‘"‘                          The

circumstances presented by the second Ka—band processing round are identical. There are or will

be sufficient CONUS orbital slots to accommodate all pending Ka—band applicants.""

Accordingly, pursuant to the Commission‘s Ka—band processing policies, more than two CONUS

slots may be assigned to the same applicant. Indeed, even Pegasus‘s own plan for resolving the

second round would result in the award of more than two full—CONUS slots to Hughes and




         * See Initial First—Round Order.

        * Comm, Inc. ultimately received orbital locations 75° W.L., 77° W.L., 87° W.L. and 91° W.L. Id. See
Final First—Round Order at 3—4.

         * See Comm Inc., DA 97—968, released May 9, 1997 at 5; Loral Space & Communications Ltd., DA 97—
974, released May 9, 1997 at 5.

        22
           ** Given current first—round Ka—band proceedings, it is likely that full—CONUS slots will be vacant even
after all second—round slots have been assigned.


Lockheed Martin, without consideration of whether the provisions of Section 25.140(f) are

satisfied.""

        Pegasus cites STLC for the proposition that KaStarCom should not be granted three full—

CONUS orbital locations."" However, STLC is easily distinguished from the facts presented here

antl actually supports KaStarCom‘s position. In STLC, the Commission considered whether an

incumbent Zicensee could modify its authorization to relocate its authorized orbital slot while a

later processing round was pending.        In those circumstances, the Commission decided that it

should not grant an additional CONUS slot to the incumbent when a pool of new entrants had

filed their applications and been cut—off in reliance on the availability of the CONUS slot sought

by the incumbent.      Here, KaStarCom, DirectCom and Pegasus are participants in the same

processing round, and none has been granted an authorization. All of the second—round Ka—band

applicants filed applications in reliance on the availability of vacant slots existing at the time of

filing. Thus, until authorizations are granted in the second round, KaStarCom, DirectCom and

Pegasus have identical rights to the available CONUS slots.""
        In short, DirectCom and Pegasus fail to demonstrate why the Commussion‘s rules should

be selectively enforced against KaStarCom. KaStarCom and other second round applicants filed

their applications almost four years ago and have expended substantial resources prosecuting

their applications. These applicants have appropriately relied on the Commission‘s policies of

permitting applicants to freely change their initial orbital requests to resolve the processing round

and to obtain multiple full—CONUS assignments in circumstances where there are sufficient


        3 See Attachment to Letter from John K. Hane to Donald Abelson, Chief, International Bureau dated
March 26, 2001 at 5.

          * Satellite Transponder Leasing Corporation, 3 FCC Red 6737, 65 RR2d 855 (1988) ("STLC"); Pegasus
Petition at 5 n.17.

         * Furthermore, STLC indicates that there are circumstances in which additional CONUS slots could be
assigned to an incumbent. See STLC, 65 RR2d at 857.

                                                 10


orbital resources available to accommodate all of the participants. There is no justification for

the Commission to waive certain of its processing rules for all of the second—round participants,

but enforce Section 25.116 only with respect to KaStarCom.

IT.      Assignment Of The Orbital Locations Described In The KaStarCom Letter Would
         Serve The Public Interest.

         If the Commission decides that the KaStarCom Letter does not fall within the stated

exceptions to Section 25.116(c) rule such that a specific waiver of Section 25.116 is necessary to

permit grant of KaStarCom‘s orbital preferences, grant of such a waiver would serve the public

interest by decreasing congestion in the Ka—band arc, reducing conflicts among second round

applicants and encouraging prompt construction and operation.26 The Commussion clearly has

the authority to assign the orbital locations that it determines best serve the public interest.""

         As discussed above, KaStarCom‘s orbital location preferences will decrease the number

of satellites launched into space by permitting KaStarCom to share satellite resources with

WildBlue, increasing the number of orbital slots available to other applicants.                    KaStarCom‘s

proposal will further promote the resolution of the second processing round by increasing the

number of unencumbered orbital slots available to other applicants in the second round.                      By

assignment of the orbital locations at 73° W.L. and 109.2° W.L. to it, KaStarCom will not

deprive any applicant of these slots, because they are already encumbered by WildBlue‘s

authorization for 500 MHz.

          Placing both the 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. slots in the hands of the same licensee will

also promote the public interest because these slots are short—spaced. In effect, the 111° W.L.

slot requested by KaStarCom is encumbered not only because of Telesat‘s use of the orbital slot



         * Pursuant to Section 1.3 of the FCC‘s Rules, the Commission may waive its rules for good cause shown,
at the request of an applicant or on its own motion.

       *" See Assignment of Orbital Locations to Space Stations in the Domestic Fixed Satellite Service, 3
FCC Red 6972, 65 RR 2d 1028, 1029 (1988).
                                                   11


but also because of its short—spacing to 109.2° W.L. If KaStarCom is permitted to hold both of

the 109.2° W.L. and 111° W.L. orbital slots, there will necessarily be less opportunity for

interference to others caused by the short—spacing.

       Finally, grant of KaStarCom‘s orbital location preferences will promote prompt use of

spéctrum.   If the Commission were to heed DirectCom‘s and Pegasus‘s petitions and defer

KaStarCom‘s orbital preferences to a third processing round, substantial Ka—band resources will

lie fallow for a significant time. However, if the Commission acts promptly to re—affirm the

long—standing policies DirectCom and Pegasus would have it overturn, construction of

KaStarCom‘s facilities will be prompt and efficient because KaStarCom will benefit from

WildBlue‘s current construction activities and projected launch schedule.

                                       Conclusion

       WHEREFORE, for the reasons discussed above, the Petitions to Deny filed by

DirectCom and Pegasus should be dismissed or denied, and KaStarCom‘s application should be

promptly granted with the orbital assignments listed in the KaStarCom Letter.



                                             Respectfully submitted,

                                             KASTARCOM WORLD SATELLITE, LLC


                                             m Ee 2C_——
                                                      Stephen E. Coran
                                                      Sarah E. Stephens

                                                      Rini, Coran & Lancellotta, P.C.
                                                      1350 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
                                                      Suite 900
                                                      Washington, D.C. 20036
                                                      (202) 296—2007

July 13, 2001                                         Its Attorneys


                               CERTIEFICATE OF SERVICE

        I, Victor Onyeoziri, an assistant with the law firm of Rini, Coran & Lancellotta, P.C.
hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing "Consolidated Opposition" was sent
by first—class mail or hand delivery (*) this 13th day of July 2001, to the following:

*The Honorable Michael K. Powell
Chairman                                           *Bryan Tramont
Féderal Communications Commission                  Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner
445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Room S—B201              Abernathy
Washington, D.C. 20554                             Federal Communications Commussion
                                                   445 Twelfth Street, SW.
*Commissioner Michael J. Copps                     Washington, DC 20554
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Room 8—B115             *Adam Krinsky
Washington, D.C. 20554                            Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner
                                                  Tristani
*Commissioner Gloria Tristani                     Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission                 445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Room 8—C302             Washington, D.C. 20554
Washington, D.C. 20554
                                                  *Donald Abelson
*Commussioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy               Chief, International Bureau
Federal Communications Commussion                 Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Room 8—A¢A302            445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554                            Washington, D.C. 20554

*Commissioner Kevin J. Martin                     *Thomas S. Tycz
Federal Communications Commission                 Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication
445 Twelfth Street, SW.                           Division, International Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20554                            Federal Communications Commission
                                                  445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
*Peter A. Tenhula                                 Washington, D.C. 20554
Senior Legal Advisor to Chairman Powell
Federal Communications Commission                 *Fern Jarmulnek
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                          Chief, Satellite Policy Branch
Washington, D.C. 20554                            Federal Communications Commission
                                                  445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
*Jordan Goldstein                                 Washington, D.C. 20554
Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner
Copps                                             *Alyssa Roberts
Federal Communications Commussion                 Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                          Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554                            445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
                                                  Washington, D.C. 20554


*Jennifer Gilsenan
Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission               *Selina Khan
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                        Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20554                          Federal Communications Commission
                                                445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
*JTay Whaley                                    Washington, D.C. 20554
Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission               *Kal Krautkramer
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                        Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
Washington, D.C. 20554                          Federal Communications Commission
                                                445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
*Mark Young                                     Washington, D.C. 20554
Satellite Policy Branch, International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission               Bruce D. Jacobs
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                        Tony Lin
Washington, D.C. 20554                          Shaw Pittman LLP
                                                2300 N Street, N.W.
*Cassandra Thomas                               Washington, D.C. 20037
Deputy Chief                                      Counsel for Pegasus Development Corp.
Satellite and Radiocommunication Division
Federal Communications Commission               Stephen D. Baruch
445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                        Leventhal, Senter & Lerman PLLC
Washington, D.C. 20554                          2000 K Street, N.W.
                                                Suite 600
Todd Stansbury                                  Washington, D.C. 20006
Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP                        Counsel for TRW, Inc.
1776 K Street, NW.
Washington, D.C. 20006—2304
 Counsel for DirectCom Networks, Inc.


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Document Created: 2017-02-07 14:54:46
Document Modified: 2017-02-07 14:54:46

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