Boeing response to I

LETTER submitted by The Boeing Company

Boeing Letter

2018-01-31

This document pretains to SAT-AMD-20180131-00013 for Amended Filing on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATAMD2018013100013_1332462

                                Federal Communications Commission
                                          Washington, D.C. 20554


                                                November 21, 2017

_ Mr. Bruce A. Olcott
  Jones Day
  51 Louisiana Ave. NW
 Washington, DC 20001

           Re:       The Boeing Company, IBFS File No. SAT—LOA—20170301—00028 and SAT—AMD—
                     20170929—00137 (Call Sign $2993)

 Dear Mr. Olcott:

         On March 1, 2017, The Boeing Company (Boeing) filed an application for authority to construct,
 deploy, and operate a non—geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) fixed—satellite service (FSS) system using
 Ka—band and V—band frequencies.‘ On July 25, 2017 Boeing responded to a letter from the Satellite
 Division seeking clarification of certain aspects of this application." On September 29, 2017, Boeing filed
 an amendment to its application to update various system parameters." Nonetheless, with regard to
 Boeing‘s proposed V—band inter—satellite links (ISLs) certain aspects of the proposed system operation
 remain unclear. To aid in the Commission‘s evaluation of Boeing‘s application, please provide updated
 and additional information as detailed below.*

           In its July 25 response letter, Boeing stated in item 7(c) that it is "seeking authority to operate its
  V—band ISL transmission both within its constellation and also with any GSO satellites that operate using
 V—band spectrum." Boeing stated further that with respect to its own constellation it proposes to operate
 its V—band ISL transmissions "between its LLEO and its high—ailtitude satellites, and between its individual
 LEO satellites"" In item 8(a) however, Boeing stated that it is requesting authority to operate its V—band
 ISL transmission "from LEO to GSO andfrom LEO to high—altitude NGSO..." without mentioning
 operations between individual LEO satellites.© We note also that in Table III—3 of the narrative portion of
 the initial application‘ Boeing provided various parameters for ISLs that we interpret to represent
 transmissions between its low—Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and both its high—altitude NGSO satellites as




 1 SAT—LOA—20170301—00028 (Initial Application).
 2 See Letter from Jose P. Albuquerque, Chief, Satellite Division, to Bruce A. Olcott, Jones Day, IBFS File No. IBFS
 File No. SAT—LOA—20170301—00028 (Call Sign $2993) (April 11, 2017) and response from Bruce A. Olcott, Jones
 Day, to Jose P. Albuquerque, Chief, Satellite Division, IBFS File No. IBFS File No. SAT—LOA—20170301—00028
 (Call Sign $2993) (July 25, 2017) (July 25" Letter).

 3 SAT—AMD—20170920—00137 (A4mendment).
 * 47 CFR § 25.111(a).
 5 July 25® letter at p. 6.
 6 July 25® letter at p. 7.
 7 Initial Application Narrative at p. 23. This section was not updated in the subsequent Amendment.


well as other geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites, but not between its individual LEO satellites.©

          In the amended Schedule S Boeing included both transmitting and receiving inter—satellite service
beams operating in the V—bands as follows:

    BEAMS             FREQUENCY          TX/RCV                           SERVICE AREA
  X2L0; X2RO         47.2—50.2 GHz         TX        Visible sky above satellite with 3 dB beamwidth of 0.7°
  X3LO; X3RO         50.4—51.4 GHz         TX        Visible sky above satellite with 3 dB beamwidth of 0.7°

  X6LO; X6RO          37.5—40 GHz           RX       Visible sky above satellite with 3 dB beamwidth of 0.9°
  X7LO; X7RO           40—42 GHz            RX       Visible sky above satellite with 3 dB beamwidth of 0.9°

These beams are consistent with a satellite in Boeing‘s constellation receiving transmissions in the 37.5—
42 GHz band from a satellite outside of its own constellation, and transmitting in the 47.2—50.2 GHz and
50.4—51.4 GHz bands to a satellite outside of its own constellation (e.g. a V—band GSO satellite.) They are
not consistent however, with Boeing operating ISLs between two satellites in its own constellation, as
Boeing has not listed associated receiving ISL beams in the 47.2—50.2 GHz and 50.4—51.4 GHz bands nor
associated ISL transmitting beams in the 37.5—42 GHz band as would be required for such inter—satellite
communications.

          Please clarify the following and/or update the application if necessary:©

               1.   With regard to Boeing‘s use of V—band ISLs, does Boeing propose transmissions
                    between:                                                  >
                           Its individual LEO satellites;
                      o po op




                           Its LEO satellites and its own high—altitude NGSO satellites;
                           Its LEO satellites and other GSO satellites;
                           Its LEO satellites and other NGSO satellites;
                                Any other options.

              2.    If Boeing proposes V—band ISL transmissions between any combination of satellites
                    within its own constellation (F.e., LEO to high—altitude NGSO or LEO—to—LEO) please
                    clarify which ISL beams will receive in the 47.2—50.2 GHz and 50.4—51.4 GHz bands, as
                    well as which ISL beams will transmit in the 37.5—42 GHz band. If it is Boeing‘s intent
                    that fixed—satellite service receiving beams G2L0, G2RO, G3LO0, G3RO, L2LO0, L2RO,
                    L2L1, L2R1, L3LO0, L3RO, L3L1, and L3RO, should also be considered to be operating as
                    inter—satellite service beams, as well as fixed—satellite service transmitting beams GOLO,
                    GORO, G1LO, G1RO, LOLO, LORO, LOL1, LOR1, L1LO, L1RO L1L1, and LRR1, please so
                    state. We note that this is not consistent however, with the service areas entered for each
                    of these beams which is described as "visible Earth above 25 deg elevation angle". Nor
                    is it fully consistent with Boeing‘s statement in item 6 of its July 25°" letter that there are

8 On March 13, 2017, Boeing also filed an ex parte presentation outlining its proposed system. Examining this ex
parte presentation does not clarify the situation. On p. 11 the first bullet states that V—band constellation satellites
will use ISLs "to higher—altitude NGSO or GSO satellites." The fourth bullet states that its system includes "V—band
ISLs (LEO to inclined NGSO)", and the final row of the table states that the Field—of—View will include "inclined
NGSOs, visible GSO arc or other NGSO (MEOs)", which are also indicated in the diagram. LEO—to—LEO
transmissions are not mentioned.


                   16 [ISL] beams in total." Depending upon Boeing‘s answers above, please consider the
                   need to file an amended Schedule S.

              3.   Finally, with regard to Boeing‘s proposed Ka—band ISLs, based upon our review of the
                   application, we presume that Boeing plans to operate these only between its LEO
                   satellites and other GSO satellites outside of its own constellation. Specifically, Boeing
                   proposes to receive transmissions in the 17.8—19.3 GHz and 19.7—20.2 GHz bands on ISL
                   beams X4L0, X5L0, X4RO and X5RO, and to transmit to GSO satellites in the 27.5—29.1
                   GHz and 29.5—30 GHz bands on ISL beams XOLO, X1LO0, XORO and XIRO. Out of an
                   abundance of caution however, we ask that Boeing confirm that our understanding is
                   correct, and if not, that Boeing please clarify what it intends.

                                                     Sincerely,


                                                     ose     Albuguique
                                                      ose P. Albuquerique
                                                       hief, Satellite Division
                                                     International Bureau

ce:      Audrey L. Allison
         Senior Director, Frequency Management Services
         The Boeing Company
         929 Long Bridge Drive
         Arlington, VA 22202

         Ronald Center
         The Boeing Company
         P.O. Box 3707
         Seattle, WA 98124




° July 25® letter at p. 5. The total of 16 ISL beams includes 8 Ka—band and 8 V—band ISLs.





Document Created: 2018-01-31 09:17:07
Document Modified: 2018-01-31 09:17:07

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