Attachment GRANT

GRANT

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

GRANT

2009-07-28

This document pretains to SAT-LOA-19970605-00049 for Application to Launch and Operate on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATLOA1997060500049_727479

                                                  Dorcw@ 107°we.
Call sign: $2242           IBFS Nos.



                                                    coOPY
SAT—LOA—19970605—00049
SAT—AMD—20051118—00226
SAT—AMD—20080114—00015
SAT—AMD—20080321—00078
                                                   75776/7T7—SAT—P/ILA—97
                          Before the
     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C. 20554




                        Application of

                   DIRECTV Enterprises, Inc.

                              for

             Authority to Construct, Launch and
              Operate an Expansion System of
                 Direct Broadcast Satellites




                       E. W. Hartenstein
                           President
                   DIRECTV Enterprises, Inc.
                   2230 E. Imperial Highway
                    El Segundo, CA 90245
                        (310) 535—5000



                        Gary M. Epstein
                         John P. Janka
                        James H. Barker
                   LATHAM & WATKINS
                                                                            Un co u«y Sho1®



                          Suite 1300
               1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                                                                               K




                   Washington, D.C. 20004
                        (202) 637—2200

                          June 5, 1997


                                             Attachment to Grant
                  IBFS File Nos. SAT—LOA—19970605—00049, SAT—AMD—20051118—00226,
                      SAT—AMD—20080114—00015, and SAT—AMD—20080321—00078
                                           Call Sign: $2242
                                                  July 28 2009
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC‘s (DIRECTV‘s) request for authority to construct, launch, and operate a
17/24 GHz Broadcasting—Satellite Service (BSS) space station, DIRECTV RB—3, at the 107° W.L. orbital
location, which is an Appendix F location as set forth in the 17/24 GHz BSS Report and Order, FCC 07—
76, 22 FCC Red 8842 (rel. May 4, 2007), IS GRANTED.! Accordingly, DIRECTV is authorized to
operate its 17/24 GHz BSS space station, DIRECTV RB—3, at the 107° W.L. orbital location using the
17.3—17.7 GHz (space—to—Earth) and the 24.75—25.15 GHz (Earth—to—space) frequency bands, in
accordance with the terms and conditions contained in its application, the Federal Communication
Commission‘s (Commission‘s) rules and the conditions of this attachment.

    1.       DIRECTV is authorized to operate its 17/24 GHz BSS space station at the 107° W.L. orbital
             location up to the maximum power flux density limits defined in Section 25.208(w) of the
             Commission‘s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 25.208(w), subject to the actual technical parameters in its
             application.

    2.       DIRECTV shall maintain its 17/24 GHz BSS space station within an east/west longitudinal
             station—keeping tolerance of + 0.05 degrees of the assigned 107° W.L. orbital location.
    3.       DIRECTV, when designing its system, is reminded to take into consideration the geographic
             service requirements of Section 25.225 of the Commission‘s rules. 47 C.F.R. § 25.225.

    4.       Division ofSpectrum at the 107° W.L. Orbital Location. Grant of this application is subject
             to the provisions regarding division of spectrum contained in Section 25.158(d) of the
             Commission‘s rules. Accordingly, in the event that applications relating to call sign(s):
             $2442 and/or $2699 at the 107° W .L. orbital location are also granted, the available
             bandwidth at the orbital location will be divided among the licensees at this location. The
             following procedures apply to the selection of spectrum by DIRECTV:

             a.    Ensuring Contiguous Bandwidth Selections. Section 25.158(d)(6) requires that the each
                   licensee‘s bandwidth selection shall not preclude other licensees from selecting
                   contiguous bandwidth. To implement this requirement in the selection of bandwidth at
                   this location, operations for telemetry, tracking, and telecommand (TT&C), service—link,
                   and feeder—link band will be as follows:

                       i. Downlink Transmissions. Telemetry and beacon transmissions in the space—to—
                           Earth direction may be conducted in an 11—megahertz band segment at 17.300—

‘ The application was placed on Public Notice as accepted for filing on July 2, 2008. Policy Branch Information, °
Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT—00535 (rel. July 2, 2008); Policy
Branch Information, Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT—00537 (rel.
July 11, 2008) (corrections). Comments were filed by Ciel Satellite Limited Partnership (Ciel), Pegasus
Development DBS Corporation (Pegasus), and SES Americom Inc. (SES) on August 1, 2008. No petitions to deny
were filed against this application. In a comment filed on all pending 17/24 GHz BSS applications, including its
own applications, Pegasus sought a "clarification" regarding Commission policies relating to 47 C.F.R. §§ 25.158(c)
(prohibition on transfer of place in application queue) and 25.165 (bond requirement). The issues raised by Pegasus
relate to a request to assign this application to Pegasus from DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC (DIRECTV). IBFS File
No. SAT—AMD—20080916—00188. We address that request in a separate Order, and not in this grant.


              17.311 GHz, and/or a 11—megahertz band segment at 17.689—17.700 GHz. The
              remaining portions of the 17.3—17.7 GHz band may be used for service links in
              the space—to—Earth direction.

       11.    Uplink Transmissions. Telecommand transmissions in the Earth—to—space
              direction may be conducted in an 11—megahertz band segment at 24.750—24.761
              GHz, and an 11—megahertz band segment at 25.139—25.150 GHz. On our own
              motion, we grant a limited waiver of § 25.202(g) of the Commission‘s rules, 47
              C.FR. § 25.202(g), to permit TT&C operations in the 25.139—25.150 GHz band
              segment. Section 25.202(g) requires that "telemetry, tracking and telecommand
              functions for U.S. domestic satellites shall be conducted at either or both edges of
              the allocated band(s)." The allocated uplink band for this service is the 24.75—
              25.25 GHz band. The 25.139—25.150 GHz uplink band segment is a necessary
              counterpart to the 17.689—17.700 GHz downlink band segment. We grant this
              limited waiver to allow productive use of the 25.139—25.150 GHz uplink band
              segment that would otherwise be unused. This waiver only applies to use of the
              25.139—25.150 GHz uplink band segment at the 107° W.L. orbital location. The
              remaining portions of the 24.75—25.15 GHz band may be used by DIRECTV for
              feeder links in the Earth—to—space direction.                      '

b. Selection Process. DIRECTV will be allowed to select the particular band segments it
   wishes to use (its "Selected Assignments") no earlier than 60 days before it plans to
   launch its satellite, and no later than 30 days before that date, by submitting a letter to the
   Secretary of the Comumission. DIRECTV shall serve copies of this letter to the other
   17/24 GHz BSS Licensees at the 107° W.L. orbital location, pursuant to Section 1.47 of
   the Commission‘s rules.

        1. Selection ofDownlink TT&C. DIRECTV may make up to two telemetry and/or
             — beacon downlink frequency channel selections in the 17.3—17.7 GHz TT&C band
              segments with a bandwidth of one megahertz each: one in the 17.300—17.311
              GHz TT&C band segment, and one in the 17.689—17.700 GHz TT&C band
              segment.

        11. Selection of Uplink TT&C. In the 24.75—25.15 GHz TT&C band segments,
              DIRECTV may make up to two telecommand uplink frequency channel
              assignment selections with a bandwidth of one megahertz each: one in the
              24.750—24.761 GHz TT&C band segment, and one in the 25.139—25.150 GHz
              TT&C band segment.

       ii1. Selection ofSpectrum within the 17.3—17.7 GHz bandfor Service—Link
            Operations and within the 24.75—25.15 GHz bandfor Feeder—Link Operations.
              In the 17.3—17.7 GHz band segment, the Selected Assignment shall give
              DIRECTV access to 1/m of the quantity of spectrum in the band segment, for
              transmission on a primary basis, where "m" is the number of 17/24 GHz BSS
              Licensees authorized to provide service in the band segment at the 107° W.L.
              orbital location at the time the Selected Assignment is chosen. In the 17.3—17.7
              GHz band segment, the Selected Assignment shall be chosen such that the lower
              band edge of the assignment is an integer multiple of 378/m megahertz from the
              band edge of the lower TT&C band segment, at 17.311 GHz, and the upper band
              edge of the assignment is 378/m megahertz above the lower band edge of the
              assignment. The edges of the corresponding feeder—link Selected Assignment


                     shall be 7450 MHz above the lower and upper band edges of the service—link
                     Selected Assignment.

   c.         Operations Within and Outside of the Selected Assignments. DIRECTV shall operate on
             a primary basis relative to the other 17/24 GHz BSS Licensees within its Selected
             Assignments. DIRECTV may also operate in other portions of the 17.3—17.7 GHz and
             24.75—25.15 GHz frequency bands outside its own Selected Assignments on a secondary
             basis with respect to operations of the other 17/24 GHz BSS Licensees in their respective
             Selected Assignments. Each 17/24 GHz BSS Licensee at the 107° W.L. orbital location
             that launches a satellite to that location shall serve a Notice of Successful Launch, by
             letter to the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau, Federal Communications
             Commission. Copies of the letter shall be served on all other 17/24 GHz BSS Licensees
             at the 107° W.L. orbital location, pursuant to Section 1.47 of the Commission‘s rules.
             Within one week of receiving written notice of a successful launch, any 17/24 GHz BSS
             Licensee operating at the 107° W.L. orbital location within the Selected Assignments of
             the newly launched satellite will be required to cease operations on such selected
             assignments.

  DIRECTV‘s authorization for a 17/24 GHz BSS space station at the 107° W.L. orbital
   location will be null and void with no further action on the Commission‘s part if the space
   station is not constructed, launched, and placed into operation in accordance with the
  technical parameters, terms and conditions of this authorization by these specified time
  periods following the date of authorization:

             Execute a binding contract for construction within one year (July 7_8 2010);
0 q 0o o p




             Complete the Critical Design Review within two years (July28 2011);
             Commence construction within three years (July 22 2012);
             Launch and begin operations within five years (July 292014); and
             DIRECTV must file a bond with the Commission in the amount of $3 million, pursuant
             to the procedures set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 25.165, within 30 days of the date of this grant
             (AugustZ¥. 2009).

"DIRECTV must complete coordination of the physical operations of the space station with
 operators of space stations with overlapping>station—keeping volumes within two years and
 two months of grant of this authorization. DIRECTV shall notify the Chief, Satellite
 Division, in writing, within ten business days of completion of such coordination. Failure to
 meet this condition shall render this authorization null and void.

  DIRECTV shall file as a modification, no later than ten business days after completion of
   Critical Design Review, a revised statement detailing the post—mission disposal plans for the
   space station at end of life, including the quantity of fuel that will be reserved for post
   mission disposal maneuvers. The statement must disclose the altitude selected for a post—
   mission disposal orbit and demonstrate that the perigee altitude for a post—mission disposal
   orbit meets the requirements of Section 25.283(a) of the Commission‘s rules governing end—
   of—life disposal of geostationary satellite orbit space stations.

   This authorization and all conditions contained herein are subject to the outcome of the
   Commission‘s rulemaking in IB Docket No. 06—123 and any requirements subsequently
   adopted therein.


             9.       DIRECTV shall prepare all necessary information that may be required for submission to the
                      International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to initiate and complete the advance
                      publication, international coordination, due diligence, and notification procedures for this
                      space station, in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. DIRECTV shall be held
                      responsible for all cost recovery fees associated with these ITU filings. No protection from
                      interference caused by radio stations authorized by other Administrations is guaranteed unless
                      coordination and notification procedures are timely completed or, with respect to individual
                      Administrations, by successfully completing coordination agreements. Any radio station
                      authorization for which coordination has not been completed may be subject to additional
                      terms and conditions as required to effect coordination of the frequency assignments with
                      other Administrations. 47 C.F.R. § 25.111(b).

             10.      The license term for this 17/24 GHz BSS space station, Call Sign $2242, is 15 years, and will
                      begin to run on the date that DIRECTV certifies to the Commission that the satellite has been
                      successfully placed into orbit and its operation fully conforms to the terms and conditions of
                      this authorization. 47 C.E.R. § 25.121(a). DIRECTV shall file this certification with the
                      Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau, within ten business days of the space station
                      being put into operation.

             11.      On June 30 of each year, DIRECTV shall file a report with the International Bureau and the
                      Commission‘s Columbia Operations Center in Columbia, Maryland, containing the
                      information current as of May 31 of that year pursuant to Section 25.210(1) of the
                      Commission‘s rules. 47 C.F.R. § 25.210(1).

             12.      DIRECTV is afforded 30 days from the date of release of this grant and authorization to
                      decline this authorization as conditioned. Failure to respond within this period will constitute
                      formal acceptance of the authorization as conditioned.

             13.      This action is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on delegated
                      authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective immediately. Petitions for reconsideration
                      under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission‘s
                      rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.106, 1.115, may be filed within 30 days of the date of the public notice
                      indicating that this action was taken.


Call sign: $2242             IBFS Nos.
SAT—LOA—19970605—00049
SAT—AMD—20051118—00226
SAT—AMD—20080114—00015
SAT—AMD—20080321—00078



                                                                                      r     . ‘%pa—                         |
                                                     ;   International BureauL _| Appproved
                                                     1HMEReHONA                                                      _y\)
                                                      usn coud X4oub                   Cin \&/ %Q:&QN\\*\Q gy\(»\&\@



         2 In their comments, Ciel and SES request that certain conditions relating to ITU procedures be included in each
         17/24 GHz BSS authorization. Most of the conditions sought by Ciel and SES are included in condition No. 9 of
         this grant, which is a standard condition on space station authorizations. Ciel and SES also seek, however, to
         impose a customer notification requirement. We see no reason to impose such a condition on this authorization at
         this time.


                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                                                                                Page

 APPLICATION 1.220222222»22s2rrersesrssssssesersererreseresessessssssssesssessesrerssicessrresrecseseresrer ces es ress se se en es 1

 ITEM A.            Name and Addres$ Of ADPPHHCANE.............20200200000206se2srsererrrsrrersrrreresseesererc ies 3

 ITEM B.            Name, Address and Telephone Number and Counsel ................................. 3

 TTEM C.             SYSteM D@SCNMIPHONM .................0.00202ssesesevervserssessssssrerererserserserrersersrrsrersscseeaes 3

                    1. GE@M@PAIlY.....0220.00000002issesrssrsseresseresseveseserscesereceserereseesercerssresersersersersrsreaees 3
                    2. SQTVICES .............ccis esevesssesresesrereserreressserssrsessessesserssessecescesecenes 4

_ ITEM D.            General TechNiGAl INFOMMAtON .............0.2200.0000eeeeeeereereeereerreererre eeeeveerese}. 5

                     1. Operati0N@l CRATACt@TISHCS ............2.0.2.0002sssseser es se serssereevesresrerrrererreareeeee. 5
                       @A. FTE@QUENCY PIQM...........0.0.0.0.0022sseseevessvrsaseessrersreresseseserrererrrrerrerrrrerss 5
                       b. EMISS10M DeSIGNATOFS..........2.22.0202002002002eee+eeeseeresrrrerrsrresrrressresrrsseacees 9
                       C. COMMUNMIC@tIONS COVETAG@.........2.2....2.020200e0eeesese se rsrrerressrreseerereerers. 9
                       . POWEL FIUX D@NSItY........0...2000200002022ssssesersesrssessreessesererserrrrerrererrer iess 9
                    2. Satellite CRATACt@PISHCS...............2..00000.sseseessreeser e eeee.Melkll}. Gesrvssessees ies 10
                    3. SatelIlit@ DE@SCNIDHOM.............s.222sessesesesersessssersrresrrsesreerseeesesersesseserererereces 26
                       A. GEDM@TAL......2.00.0000000000sssers se ssrsessrrerssearrsesecseesecresrrerescersessereesererrersersees 26
                       b. —StTUCtUI@AL D@SIGM ........2..202222202000022erreesee ce se reersreesecerrereerrserrererrrerseeres 26
                          C. THEFMAL CONHTOL.........s00000esseneee errererrereerererreverrrrrrrreresrerrersrrreseerreeees 26
                          Q. POWEL ........2202002sseeserseserrevrerrresresersercerserserses esn essrressesrasessesesreseresersea e 26
                          @. AftitUUE@ CONIOL ..22.20020200002000202eeserv se se es se eserereerer se esc rsseerecrreresersceeaees 27
                          soonC 27
                          &. COMIMUMIC@tHON PAYIO@G..............200222020202eseave e se es se se es se es serersrer sn ee. 27
                          h. Satellite COMMUNICatiONS SUDSYSt@M.....................020002e2eeeeekeekek0e0, 30
                          i. Satellite USE@LU Lif@tIME .........222000020002022e2e0eeeerrrrer se e reresres es r es se s se se ces 31
                             (41) FU@I .....2.22000002ssrevssresevrrrervereresrrrrrresererrresecesressersesersen se resssceesecees 31
                             (11) BAt@TY...........00.0ssssssssrssevescrssesserssrsssresessceeeseesseseceseccsrcerseerereees 32
                             (i11) SOIAT PAM@l .........022202.020002see2eserre e srrerverreresserereersereerresseseser n ces 32
                                (AQaCO e 32
                                (V) NOM—EI@CHOMIG......2..200.2202esee2eererrresevrerersesserseerererreseerersernererneees 32
                                (vi) Eclip$e@ CONSiG@TAtIONS...................esesevsesseressessesersesseseese esc eess 32
                                (Vil) SUM OUAGES ..............02020seseveeseererrererserereasrsrrsrerresereesesressec se ie es 32
                          j.     Satellite St@tiONAK@@DIMG ....................cvesseseserseesersessserrressererserssrse se e es 33
                          k. Telemetry, Tracking and Command ("TT&C") ................cccckllk. ... 33
                             (1)  TeI@ME@HY ....2.22..200200000es es e e es vererrerrereererrrvesersressererrsers enc e ns er ienss 33
                                (11) COIMMIMAMG......2...0200000000020ererrervsvrrrerrrsrressssesrressrecesrernersernereeseees 33
                                (iii) TT&C Performance CharaCterMStICS.....................ccckcl. k.k. k.k. 34
                          1.    SYSt@M R@lADilitY.......2..2202200020002222se2s2evervessevssrerssseree es esc ccrcerscecsere ces 34

                                                                    i
 DC_DOCS\62405.4


ITEM E.       Performance Requirements and Operational Characteristics....................... 34

              1. —INtOGUCHOM.....,.2.0.000200002s2srseeesearerseser es se rersrsresseeessrerssesrerrersrecsererserrrrreress 34
              2. —TIADSNMSS10N PEFOIMAMNCE..........02.020200022020808e46eve e es e e rr esc es ies errerresereerer ces 39
                 A. OVETVI@W....2.2.0.020.s2222errsessesrsrersserresrrresseereereesecesserseeresesererrerrerserra iess 39
                 b. Sign@l CRHATACt@TISHCS..........2.22202.02002se2se262res es es r es se rseseresrerrressreserer en 39
                 C. ILiMAK BUU&G@t .......22.02020202200sr se se se vssr es es es s sc evsesscssserresseresersersrersereeserrees 39
                 d. Availability ANAIYSIS ...............0..000002002essssrseresrreresrervesreeresererererrecee. 43

ITEM F.       INterfer@NC@ ADAIYSIS .........2.22.020020esss2es0esseessssvesseersrerr se e es es se sss esc cesc ecsrec ienss 43

              1. INt@INAl INt@Tf@T@MCE@............0.2000000sssessseeeeee se css es reer se s es sr es esc se ce rserssereseeess 43
                 a. Cross—polarization..................... avesvessresssresressrrsssressenserssseresrscrcsecsseces 43
                 b. OUt—Of—bDANG INt@Tf@r@MCE...........0202200200202e22ee2srreesvev se s se srrv es es seree es e ers 43
              2. Adjacent Satellite INt@Lf@T@MC@..............0220.000e22eseeese se ce re se e es ev se se ces se ns e e ces 44
              3. Coexistence with Other Satellite System$ ............................}}}.Iessssseck}} 44
              4. Coexistence with Terrestri@l SYSt@MS...........22.02002000e02 06e eerser es vesreerrer k. 44

ITEM G.       PrefeIr@d LOCAtIOMS ...........cessessseeseeersssssssseeveesersss esc es se se se ces scessesscs enc ce es e ce se e es 45

              1. Number Of ReqQUeStéd LOCAtIONS...............s202020se6eesererver es rersrrssreresrerrer kess 45
              2. Orbital Arc Limitations and Service Capabilities...............................}... 45
              3. Availability Of DeSit@d LOCAtON ................2.02.02002eeseseeseerverer css csee se eeaee. 46
              4. MiscellaneOUus @Ad AIt@rMAtVES ..............2.0202.0222ss2esesesessvers se se r es es se ree ces 46

ITEM H.       SCRHE@UUIG...12, 222020020020 0e80es esc se se se es rrev se r se r ons esns es es es esc esnc s en resre se se s es s ese nsc iss se ce nes 46

              1. CORtACt MilEStOM@S ..............2.200002essser es se se reerrrrressererererrerere es resresenr se anes 46
              2. —SPACE@CTAft MIilE@StOMES .................ses se eesserererererrrerrererererererrrrerererereerererer s 47

ITEM I.       SYSE@M COSES.........llssse esn es reereeereeeerenerreererrseriereeverereensrerreveeeresererrseeerrssererevee es 47

ITEM J.       FiDADC1AL QUAIif1CAtIONS .........22.2222022002e6seseeverseserer es se iss es es rerssersensseres enc es enc eees 49

ITEM K.       LegAl QUQHfICAHIONS..........2.202002222eeesereereseresrerssrrrresrrereseereresererersersarerrererecees 49

ITEM L.       Typ@ Of OPETAtIOMS ..............0.cceeseererersesrrererererreerersesereressesrserveseseceresecrecrrerees 49




                                                                        11
DC_DOCS\62405.4


ITEM M.       PUbliG INtereSt COASIGETAHIODS ............eseeveeeeeerrreeerrrrseeeeareeserreeeearvess. wl 49

               1.   TechHNOIOG1CAl IMMOV@tONM .........02200220222202202servessersserrsrcsrersscecrererrerrecer0e. 50
               2.   —SUpPOIt Of COMPEtIHONM ...........02020022222e2esevesrvrrsesersersesessesersevessesceserssereee. 50
               3.   Opportunities for CONtent DeVEIOPE@TS .....................0.00.sssa2eererereseresrec es 50
               4.   ACCEPtADNCE Of the ATSC FOTMAE..............c..0eeee se nereeeerrrreresererrersrsear iess 51
               5.   Educational and Informational ProgramMing....................................}}}. 51
               6. Services Important to the NatioOA‘S ECOAOMY .....................l.c ce eeeeee}e}}. 51
               7. DIRECTV—Related EMPIOYMENt..........12.220200222200222ee86ereeverrveer es se se cce s 51
               8. DIRECTV CUStOMIETS ............220200002sseeseevererseerere se ce es s ra s en snn s reeresnesererecares 52

ITEM N.        COMCIUSIOM \...........002000000ssesseerevsssreeresresesesesscrsressesseserersessesr esns rererserec enc se reees 52




                                                              111
DC_DOCS\62405.4 °


                                                        INDEX OF FIGURES




Figure D—1 snn ereerrrerrrrrererrerersrrereeereversesersrsersersvsrsrrerseeereerererserrrsreseresressrrrrerereereversererarserev en 7
            Frequency and Polarization Plan

FIGUI@ D—2...2.020020000seeeesreresseerevesereereverseareesecseseseveessisecsieesereeserenceicessenreessessescsercenererserser en ces 11
            CONUS EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location

FigUI@ D—3 .......0.000esesereersserrseersserrsesererseeserseesesssecescterercsseecsecscererrecsrcsscsiscserseceererersasererer s ies 12
            Hawaii EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location 96.5°W

FiGUI@ D—4...12..00200s2e0resesrvereeseeresersesecsesesecetererscccsivecbesicececeesecessreseciesesse cesc recereceserees en cesc e ces 13
            CONUS EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location 101°W                                                           ~

FigUIG@ D—5 ....120200202ssseesesseseseseserssresererersssceessererreeeeresereevsecesesessesere ce ce ce cesc eceseres esc ecere cesc en ies 14
            Hawaii EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location 101°W

FiGUI@ D—6........00.02esersesesrssecesseseerssreresscir ces re se es e ie rssreeesevessesiecessecssev esc iescsc en vse ce reereseesesecee n en s 15
            CONUS EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location 105.5°W

FiGUI@ D~7 ....1,0201202sseeesrsrvssseserreressrereessscstsssceeserie ie ie rerseeseresesrs iess rseesen ie ce nebscere ces seeres ies r se n en es 16
            Hawaii EIRP Pattern for Orbital Location 105.5°W

FiGUI@ D—B .....0.00020202seeseesreresrserssesssesesscetesseereeiessevessresesersessssrese se ce se issc eerressesssnseenese es se ces ereers 17
            Receive Gain Pattern for Orbital Location 96.5°W

FigUI@ D—Y .....1202020ereeeereeessreresssertsss cesc se es srssssesesereeeeserererereerassrererevererere ns es se re e en es errsenrenerenares 18
            Receive Gain Pattern for Orbital Location 101°W

Figure D— l ) cessessrssessressesssessseesssvessesssssessesesresrersseresrersscerreseecerseisersersenesessensereersrenrereccrre en ces 19
             Receive Gain Pattern for Orbital Location 105.5°W

FigUIG D—1 1 ....20202220e2eeververerrerveresreresstresersrersceseresserscssesresressssre se seererseerenererereeereerversenereer ne es 29
             Broadcast Subsystem Simplified Block Diagram

FigUIC@ E—1 .....2..0.000esereevereseseererents es eer se se rerrerecsvaerecsereerrscers en es en es ie en eererer e renernerrrererreanenenee s 42.
        Digital Television Transmission Architecture




                                                                          iv
DC_DOCS\62405 .4


                                                           INDEX OF TABLES




TADIG D—1 ....1200002002ssssessvesssssssesrrsssssesesessssrsrtresseseseesreseseevessesesireseresesesasiessesssassecsereerecer ces e ces 8
             Frequency and Polarization Assignments

TADIG@ D—2 ....2.0000200sseseesseseses se es nsc se s se es ecrerecesseseereseceesreresresesrevesiseseesarresesse sns sses es se se se es seee cce nc es 20
             Downlink Power Flux Density

TaDIQ D~3 ....ceseeeeeeeeeerneneeenreneeeeenereereeebeerereverereeereneereenennveneernenrerneeenvevererernenernerernrnee 21—24
             Spacecraft Characteristics

TAbDIG D~4 ....2.0002000ssvsrsssresserssres se se resreesreseesereseesseececeesesseresrersersrresreseessesssrescsesrsec es se sc es se en es 25
        Weight Budget

TAbDIG D—5 .,....20020ssssvsssvssrsssersrrsseresresesesessrreserserescerssreserscersressess esc eerer ces ces erresse cssc en es s ses esc cce es 25
        Power Budget

TADIG D—6 .....2..2002ssesev es rscssesseessesesserseseses es s iess sresseeesersessrec e es se se seess pessssreesssreeseressesres se css e ces 28
       Satellite Uplink G/T Budget

TabDIQ D~7 ..seseemeeeemmeemmmmeemmmee.ennmennmerenrerereermeeneermenreeemeereeeenneneeeneenreneereneneemrernencen 28
             Satellite Downlink EIRP Budget

TADIG D—B ........20.2ssesessesssssesrvrevsesesrssevesssrecsssesveseseseereeseceesesseses se ces ie vecsereresrecesecserrse nsc ies es reees 36
       TT&C System Parameters

heC h 37
             Command RF Link Budget

TAbDIG D—1( .....2200200202eee0e 428 rse 6e se rser se es iess e reesrer sc iss asrecesrer en rrrerecersecrerererrrcrne iesse 38
             Telemetry LinkBudget (On—station)

TAbDIG E~] ....1222022sessesversersessrereersersersressessrsseesrerserererecseseresereereeresirerees Ieserervrersevesserresreaeese. 42
             Digital Television Link Budget

TAbDIQ@ I~ 1 .......200200s2sesesssssesererssesscessesessersrsesrersesersessreserrrererererersrrenccererecereresererrerereerrerererereees 48
          Investment and Operating Costs




DC_DOCS\62405.4


                                  Before the
                     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                                   Washington, D.C. 20554




                                                                   hoii tss atihatihsoulihoull
In the Matter of the Application of

DIRECTV Enterprises, Inc.                                                                        File No.

For Authority to Construct, Launch and
Operate an Expansion System of Direct
Broadcast Satellites




                                        APPLICATION

              DIRECTV Enterprises, Inc. ("DIRECTV"), a majority—owned subsidiary
of Hughes Electronics Corporation, hereby requests authority to construct, launch and
operate a system of six direct broadcast satellites, to be known as DIRECTV Expansion—1
(or DX—1) through DIRECTV Expansion—6 (or DX—6), which will provide advanced
direct broadcast satellite services at 17.3—7.8 GHz. The proposed expansion system will
provide service to the U.S. from three orbital locations: 96.5° W.L., 101° W. L. and
105.5° W. L.

               DIRECTV is the United States‘ leading provider of DBS services.
DIRECTV initiated its DBS service in June 1994, and presently provides full—CONUS
DBS service using 3 high—powered HS 601 spacecraft employing dual mode 120/240
watt transponders. DIRECTV today provides approximately 175 channels of all—digital,
entertainment, educational and informational programming to customers purchasing the
DSS® ‘ satellite receiving system, which features an 18—inch satellite dish antenna.

                  Although the multichannel video programming distributor ("MVPD")
industry in which DIRECTV competes continues to be dominated by cable operators in
most local markets, DIRECTV nevertheless has experienced tremendous growth since its
inception, and currently serves in excess of 2.5 million subscribers nationwide. The
Federal Communications Commission recently determined that DBS providers have a



        DSS® is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc.




DC_DOCS\62405.4


higher combined subscribership than any other MVPD alternative to incumbent cable
systems," and DIRECTV hopes to continue and advance that trend.

                This proposed expansion system will provide attractive, competitive DBS
programming and services across all portions of the forty—eight contiguous states
(CONUS), Hawaii and major portions of Alaska. The use of 240 watt transponders will
allow the utilization of antennas as small as 45 cm in diameter over most of CONUS.
Satellite compatibility with existing modulation and coding schemes, as well as advanced
modulation and coding schemes, will ensure economic utilization of this important
spectrum for the entire life of each satellite.

                  The satellites will be used for direct—to—home and, secondarily, direct—to—
business delivery of video, audio, data and multimedia services. The video services are
anticipated to include NTSC (transported digitally), standard—definition and high—                A
definition ATSC formats. These services will complement the existing satellite
broadcasting business of DIRECTV using the band 12.2—12.7 GHz.

                DIRECTV today is filing, concurrently with this application, a Petition for
Rulemaking to allocate the 24.75—25.25 GHz band for the fixed satellite service ("FSS")
in the Earth—to—space direction for "feeder links" for the broadcasting satellite service
("BSS"), and also to provide for use of the 17.3—17.8 GHz band in the space—to—Earth
direction for BSS. These allocations will increase greatly the potential capacity of BSS
systems, and will benefit U.S. consumers by permitting U.S.—licensed BSS operators to
offer a much wider variety of programming and service offerings. DIRECTV requests
expedited approval of this application and permission to begin operation by the year 2000
to implement the Commission‘s general goal of promoting increased competition among
multichannel video programming distributors, including competition to incumbent cable
television operators.




        Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video
        Programming, CS Docket No. 96—133, Third Annual Report (released Jan. 2, 1997), at 4 39
        (©1996 Competition Report").




DC_DOCS\62405.4


ITEM A.           Name and Address of Applicant

                  DIRECTV Enterprises, Inc.
                  2230 E. Imperial Highway
                  El Segundo, California 90245
                  Attn.: E. W. Hartenstein, President

ITEM B.           Name, Address and Telephone Number of Counsel

                  Gary M. Epstein
                  John P. Janka
                  James H. Barker
                  LATHAM & WATKINS
                  Suite 1300
                  1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20004
                  (202) 637—2200

ITEM C.           System Description


                  1.   Generally

              The DIRECTV expansion satellite system will consist of a space segment
and a ground segment. The space segment will consist of the in—orbit satellites and their
associated launch vehicles. Each of the satellites will be capable of being launched by
one of the currently available commercial launch vehicles. The six satellites will be
located, in pairs, at the nominal orbital locations of 96.5°, 101° and 105.5° West
Longitude. Each satellite will provide transmit coverage to CONUS, Hawaii and major
portions of Alaska in the band 17.3—17.8 GHz. Each satellite will be capable of receiving
transmissions from CONUS in the band 24.75—25.25 GHz.

                 The DIRECTV expansion band ground segment will consist of: (i) earth
stations to perform the necessary telemetry, tracking and command ("TT&C") functions
for the satellites, (ii) earth station(s) to provide the communications uplink signal(s) and
(iii) receive—only antennas to provide direct—to—home services.

                  Satellite TT&C operations will be performed by DIRECTV‘s affiliate
PanAmSat or another respected satellite services provider. PanAmSat owns and operates
an Operations Control Center ("OCC") in Long Beach, California, which performs the
complex tasks associated with on—orbit satellite operations. This OCC currently provides
the hands—on operational control of DIRECTV‘s existing three—satellite DBS fleet.
Hughes Space and Communications Company, another DIRECTV affiliate, operates a
separate Mission Control Center ("MCC") in El Segundo, California, which directs each
satellite through transfer orbit and on—orbit deployment activities and performs in—orbit



DC_DOCS\62405.4


 testing once the satellite is in its geostationary position. Once operational, spacecraft
 control is handled entirely by the OCC.

               Current plans call for transfer orbit and on—station TT&C links to operate
 in the BSS band 12.2—12.7 GHz (downlink) and FSS band 14.0—14.5 GHz (uplink).

                 Telemetry data from each satellite will be received by a primary TT&C
 earth station and a backup TT&C earth station. Both stations will be located in the
 United States, at dispersed geographic locations, to ensure continued satellite support in
  the event of a major outage at one location. Information from the TT&C stations is
  transmitted to the OCC over communications lines where it is processed, archived and
  analyzed. Commands to control the spacecraft are issued from the OCC and
. subsequently routed to the TT&C earth stations for processing and uplinking to the
  satellite. Although the earth stations are under the overall control of the OCC, at least
  one TT&C station may operate independently of the OCC, if necessary. Separate license
  applications will be filed for the TT&C stations needed to support the DIRECTV
  expansion satellites.

                   DIRECTV anticipates that it will own and operate the majority of the
 transmit/receive stations used to communicate to its expansion satellites. These sites
 typically will use dishes in the 9—13 meter range to uplink digital carriers in the band
 24.75—25.25 GHz. The stations will monitor the satellite downlink in the 17.3—17.8 GHz
 band. Depending on the final business plans, a number of those stations may be needed in
 different cities across the United States. Separate license applications will be submitted
 for these facilities.

                Most receive—only antennas for reception of signals from the DIRECTV
 expansion satellites will be owned by the end users of the service. Through the use of
 shaped reflectors, the satellites will be able to focus their RF power on areas with the
 greatest population and heaviest rainfall. This will permit the use—of 45 cm receive dishes
 over most of CONUS at an availability of at least 99.7% as indicated by the Crane rain
 model. For certain regions, larger dishes may be recommended to improve service
 availability and/or transponder throughput. This level of service quality will permit an
 integrated service offering with DIRECTV‘s existing DBS business at 12.2—12.7 GHz.

                   2.   Services

                The satellites will be used for direct—to—home and, secondarily, direct—to—
 business, delivery of television, audio, data and multimedia services. These services will
 complement DIRECTV‘s existing multichannel video programming distribution business
 at 12.2—12.7 GHz.                                 ‘                                 |

                 Direct—to—home video services using the proposed expansion system are
 anticipated to include NTSC (transported digitally) and standard—definition and high—
 definition ATSC formats. The ATSC streams will be encapsulated with modulation and

                                                4
 DC_DOCS\62405.4


coding appropriate for satellite transmission. Increased video capacity is needed to both
increase the number of channels and improve the technical quality of each channel
available to subscribers. Channel demands are driven by the growing consumer interest
in receiving niche services and a wider variety of entertainment, educational,
informational and ethnic programming from multiple sources. The marketplace will
expect increased technicalquality as it is exposed to digital satellite and cable services,
Digital—VHS, Digital Versatile Disk and terrestrial digital broadcasting. Although
DIRECTV has improved both the quantity and quality of its video transmission by signal
processing improvements, future major improvements must rely on access to additional
capacity.

                New data and multimedia services are also expected to require significant
increases in satellite capacity. The multimedia information will be displayed on
television or computer screens in formats similar to existing Internet web pages or CD—
ROM multimedia. The first PCs capable of directly displaying satellite—delivered
information should be in the marketplace before the end of 1997. The new data and
multimedia services are expected to include financial, sports and news "tickers,"
information from Internet web sites, web—page—like information that complements certain
television channels, and new multimedia formats with embedded full—motion MPEG2
video. This new delivery mechanism is also expected to be valuable for data delivery, on
an efficient national basis, to businesses and the Small Office in the Home (SOHO).
These delivered "data objects" are expected to include PC software updates, information
from databases for use in spreadsheets and high quality graphics and video clips for use
in business reports.

               All the planned digital services will be transported using fixed—length
packets and time—division multiplexing to provide high data rate streams. The streams will
then be encoded and modulated using a satellite—optimized forward error control code and
modulation. The planned technology is either the concatenated RS/convolutional coding
and QPSK modulation currently employed by DIRECTV, or, possibly, an even more
advanced technology that is more efficient in terms of information capacity per
transponder.

ITEM D.           General Technical Information

                  1.    Operational Characteristics


                       ‘a.   Frequency

               The satellites will operate using the 24.75—25.25 GHz frequency band for
Earth—to—space (uplink) transmissions and the 17.3—17.8 GHz frequency band for space—
to—Earth (downlink) transmissions.




DC_DOCS\62405.4


                Each satellite will contain 16 active transponder channels, consisting of
24 MHz channels with a 29.16 MHz spacing. Each satellite pair employs full frequency
reuse by using dual polarization for both uplink and downlink frequencies. Linear
polarization will be utilized on the uplink and circular polarization on the downlink. The
radio frequency and polarization plan is shown in Figure D—1. Center frequencies and
polarization assignments are listed in Table D—1.

                  Current plans call for TT&C operation in the BSS band at 12.2—12.7 GHz
(downlink) and the FSS band at 14.0—14.5 GHz (uplink) during transfer orbit and on—
station operation. The exact frequencies will be selected after analysis of the existing and
planned FSS and BSS systems in the neighborhood of 101° W. L. During transfer orbit,
command signals will be received through a bicone antenna. When the satellite is at its
final orbit position, the primary command uplink will utilize a dedicated
tracking/command antenna, with a pipe antenna available as a backup.

                DIRECTV requests transfer orbit and on—station telemetry in the 12.2—12.7
 GHz band. This is to avoid interference between DBS feeder links at 17.3—17.8 GHz and
 TT&C stations in the same band, where these sites are co—located. DIRECTV believes
that the 12.2—12.7 GHz band can accommodate these telemetry carriers without
interference to communications traffic and other telemetry links serving expansion band
BSS satellites.

             It is important that the transfer orbit command frequency be in the 14.0—
14.5 GHz band. A command link at 24 GHz would suffer greater atmospheric
attenuation and would thereby increase the risk during transfer orbit, a critical phase. In
addition, transfer orbit ground stations with 24 GHz command links do not exist and
would need to be developed.

DIRECTV requests an on—station command link in the 14.0—14.5 GHz band to eliminate
the need to fly two sets of command receivers, one pair at 14 GHz, and one at 24 GHz.
Otherwise, switching capability between the two receivers would also need to be
incorporated on the spacecraft, reducing reliability. Such switching between receivers
would also reduce command uplink availability at 24 GHz due to atmospheric effects.
DIRECTV believes that the 14.0—14.5 GHz band can accommodate these command
carriers without interference to existing communications traffic. DIRECTV will submit
such additional information as the Commission may require with respect to these
proposed TT&C bands.




DC_DOCS\62405.4



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Document Modified: 2019-04-14 03:12:03

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