Attachment GRANT

GRANT

DECISION submitted by SES AMERICOM, INC.

STA GRANTED WITH CONDITION EFFECTIVE 08/18/2004

2004-08-18

This document pretains to SAT-LOA-20030219-00013 for Application to Launch and Operate on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATLOA2003021900013_391141

                     APPLICATION FOR SATELLITE SPACE STATION AUTHORIZATIONS              FCC Use Only
                             FCC 3 12 MAIN FORM FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

APPLICANT INFORMATION
Enter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu:
Replacement application for GSTAR4
  1-8. Legal Name ofApplicant
           Name:         SES Amencorn, Inc.                     Phone Number:   609-987-4 187
           DBA Name:                                            Fax Number:     609-987-4233
           Street:       Four Research Way                      E-Mail:         nancy.eskenazi@ses-americom.
                                                                                com


           City:         Princeton                              State:          NJ
           Country:       USA                                   Zipcode:        08540          -6684
           Attention:    Nancy J. Eskenazi


  9-16. Name of Contact Representative (If other than applicant)
           Name:         Karis A. Hastings                      Phone Number:   202-637-5767
           Company:      Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.                 Fax Number:     202-637-5910
           Street:       555 Thirteenth Street, NW              E-Mail:         KAHastings@HHLaw.com


           City:         Washington                             State:          DC
           Country:       USA                                   Zipcode:        20004    -1109
                                                                Relationship:   Legal Counsel



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                                               Attachment
                                Terms and Conditions of Authorization
                                          August 18,2004


1.      SES Americom, Inc.’ s (“SES Americom”) applications, SAT-LOA-20030219-00013 (and
amendment File Nos. SAT-AMD-20030422-00069 and SAT-AMD-20040615-00117) and File No.
SAT-MOD-20030214-00011, Call Sign S2 180, ARE GRANTED. Accordingly, SES Americom
is authorized to launch and operate its Americom-15 (“AMC-15”) hybrid Ka/Ku-Band satellite at
the 105” W.L. orbital location in the 11.7-12.2 GHz, 14.0-14.5 GHz, 18.6-18.8 GHz, 19.7-20.2
GHz, 28.4-28.6 GHz, and 29.5-30.0 GHz frequency bands in accordance with the terms,
conditions, and technical specifications set forth in its applications, this Attachment, and the
Federal Communication Commission’s (“Commission”) Rules.

2.       SES Americom’s Ka-band system authorization’ IS MODIFIED to reflect its
relinquishment of three orbital location assignments (17” W.L., 56” E.L., and 114.5”E.L.) and
deletion of authority to operate intersatellite links. SES Americom’s Ka-band system
authorization IS MODIFIED to reflect orbital location assignments of 85” W.L. and 105”W.L.
only. The AMC-15 satellite is authorized to operate its service links in the following Ka-band
frequencies: 18.6-18.8 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz downlinks (right-hand circular polarization, or
RHCP) and 28.4-28.6 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz uplinks (left-hand circular polarization, or
LHCP).~

3.     SES Americom is authorized to operate the AMC-15 satellite’s Ka-band Tracking,
Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) beacon with right-hand circular polarization in the frequency
band 18.58185 GHz - 18.58215 GHz.

4.      AMC-15 must be constructed, launched, and placed into operation in accordance with the
technical parameters and terms and conditions of this authorization by the time periods specified
in GE American Communications, Inc., Request for Extension of Time to Construct, Launch, and
Operate a Ka-band Satellite System in the Fixed Satellite Service, Order and Authorization, 16
FCC Rcd 11038 (2001).

5.      SES Americom’s request for a waiver of the cross-polarization isolation requirements,
contained in Section 25.210 (i) of the Commission’s rules IS GRANTED. Section 25.210(i)
requires that the ratio of the on-axis co-polar gain to the cross-polar gain of the antenna in the
assigned frequency band be at least 30 dB within its primary coverage area. SES Americom
maintains that in the AMC-15’s Ka-band frequencies, this ratio is at least 25 dB throughout 90%

1
 See GE American Communications, Inc. Application for Authority to Construct, Launch, and Operate a
Ka-band Satellite System in the Fixed Satellite Service, Order’and Authorization, 12 FCC Rcd 6475
(1997); GE American Communications, Inc. Application for Authority to Construct, Launch, and Operate a
Ka-band Satellite System in the Fixed Satellite Service, Order and Authorization, 16 FCC Rcd 2461
(2001); and GE American Communications, Inc., Request for Extension of Time to Construct, Launch, and
Operate a Ka-band Satellite System in the Fixed Satellite Service, Order and Authorization, 16 FCC Rcd
11038 (2001) (collectively, “Ka-band system authorization”).

 This amounts to an overall reduction of 600 megahertz in bandwidth from what the Commission
previously authorized for SES Americom’s Ka-band service links (call sign S2 180). Previously, SES
Americom was authorized to operate in the following frequencies: service uplinks in 28.35-28.6 GHz and
29.25-30.0 GHz (LHCP) and service downlinks in 18.3-18.8and 19.7-20.2 GHz (RHCP). See id.


of the spacecraft's coverage area, and a minimum of 23 the dB in the remaining 10% of the
coverage area. Although AMC-15 does not fully conform to the standard set forth in Section
25.210(i) of the Commission's rules, we agree with SES Americom's assertions that failure to
meet the cross-polarization isolation requirements will not adversely impact any other operator,
and that the only party to suffer an increase in interference would be SES Americom itself. We
further concur that grant of a waiver will serve the public interest by permitting SES Americom to
optimize the design of the AMC-15 spacecraft without creating unacceptable losses in signal
quality or unduly adding to the spacecraft's weight, complexity or cost and is consistent with
previous Commission action^.^

6.    SES Americom's request for any waiver of the Commission's rules necessary to permit
the AMC-15 to employ orthogonal circular polarization on the Ku-band payload is DISMISSED
as MOOT.^

7.       SES Americom is authorized to provide direct-to-home services over the AMC-15
satellite, in both the Ka- and Ku-bands, in accordance with SES Americom, Inc., Applications for
Modification of Fixed-Satellite Service Space Station Licenses, Order and Authorization, 18
FCC Rcd 16589 (2003).

8.       SES Americom shall prepare the necessary information, as may be required, for
submission to the International Telecommunication Union ("ITU") to initiate and complete the
advance publication, international coordination, due diligence, and notification process of this
space station, in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. SES Americom shall be held
responsible for all cost recovery fees associated with these ITU filings. We also note that 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 of other
administrations. See 47 C.F.R. 3 25.11 l(b).

9.       In order to ensure continuity of service in the Ku-band at the 105" W.L. orbital location,
SES Americom must begin providing Ku-band service at the 105" W.L. orbital location before
the satellite it is replacing discontinues service at the 105" W.L. orbital l ~ c a t i o n . ~


 See, e.g., New Skies Satellites, N.V., Petition for Declaratory Ruling, Order, 17 FCC Rcd 10369 at para.
19 (2002) and SES Americom, Inc., Application to Launch and Operate the Americom-23 hybrid
CIKulExtended Ku-Band Satellite, File No. SAT-LOA-20031218-00358,granted July 13, 2004.
4
 As a result of rule revisions made in the First Space Station Reform Order, operation of orthogonal
circularly polarized Ku-band transmissions is now consistent with the Commission's rules. See
Amendment of the Commission's Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies, First Report and Order, IB
Docket No. 02-34, 18 FCC Rcd 10760at 10859-63 (2003).
5
 The GSTAR 4 satellite previously operated in the Ku-band at the 105" W.L. orbital location. In October
2003, the Satellite Division granted SES Americom's request for special temporary authority to move the
GSTAR 4 satellite from the 105" W.L. orbital location to the 165" W.L. orbital location, and later granted
SES Americom authority to perform end of life maneuvers, boosting the GSTAR 4 satellite into a disposal
orbit above the geostationary arc. (Satellite Policy Branch Information, Public Notice, Report No. SAT-
00171, rel. Oct. 10,2003 and SES Americom, Inc., Application for Special Temporary Authority to
Continue to Operate the TT&C Systems of GSTAR 4 During Deorbit Maneuvers, File No. SAT-STA-
20040128-00007and Policy Branch Information, Public Notice, Report No. SAT-00191, rel. Feb. 9,2004).
Prior to the GSTAR 4 relocation, the Commission granted SES Americom temporary authority to drift the
Ah4C-2 satellite from 85" W.L. to the 105" W.L. orbital location and provide Ku-band service at that

                                                    2


10.      The license term for the AMC-15 satellite, Call Sign S2180, is fifteen years and will
begin to run on the date that SES Americom 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.

11.      SES Americom must provide a written statement to the Commission within 60 days of
the date of this grant that identifies any known satellites located at, or planned to be located at,
SES Americom's assigned orbital location, or assigned in the vicinity of that location such that
the station-keeping volume of the respective satellites might overlap, and that states the measures
that will be taken to prevent in-orbit collisions with such satellites. This statement should address
any licensed FCC systems, or any systems applied for and under consideration by the FCC. The
statement need not address every filing with the ITU that meets these criteria, but should assess
and address any systems reflected in ITU filings that are in operation or that SES Americom
believes may be progressing toward launch, e.g., by the appearance of the system on a launch
vehicle manifest. If SES Americom elects to rely on coordination with other operators to prevent
in-orbit collisions, it shall provide a statement as to the manner in which such coordination will
be effected.

 12. SES Americom's request for Special Temporary Authority, (File No. SAT-STA-
 20040622-00 118) IS GRANTED, and SES Americom is authorized to conduct in-orbit-testing
 of the AMC-15 satellite at the 136" W.L. orbital location for a 90-day period, consistent with the
 terms and specifications set forth in its application subject to the following conditions:
                (a) SES Americom will coordinate its test operations with all potentially affected
                operating satellite networks;

                (b) that no harmful interference shall be caused to any lawfully operating
                radiocommunication systems and SES Americom' s operations shall cease
                immediately upon notification of such harmful interference. Further, SES
                Americom shall notify the Commission in writing that it has received such a
                notification within 14 days of receipt;

                (c) SES Americom shall accept interference from any lawfully operating satellite
                network or radiocommunication system;

                 (d) testing authority is limited to those frequencies for which the AMC-15
                satellite is authorized;

                (e) this authorization is subject to change in any of its terms or cancellation in its
                entirety at any time upon reasonable notice, but without hearing, if in the opinion
                of the Commission, circumstances should require;

                (f) this temporary authority shall commence on the date SES Americom launches
                the AMC-15 satellite, and will terminate 90 days from that date;

                (8) SES Americom shall notify the Commission in writing no later than seven
                days after it has completed testing of AMC-15 and commenced the move of
                AMC-15 to its assigned orbital location of 105" W.L.
                (h) this temporary authority is only for testing purposes and shall not be used for
                the provision of commercial service;


location. Application by SES Americom, Inc. for Special Temporary Authority to Operate AMC-2 at 105"
W.L., Order and Authorization, 18 FCC Rcd 13143 (2003).

                                                        3


                                 "   ..   ,   -   ...            ~                                       .


                (i) any extension of this authorization must be requested and approved in writing.

13.     SES Americom is afforded thirty days from the date of adoption 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.

14.      This grant is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules on delegated
authority, 47 C.F.R. 5 0.261, and is effective upon adoption. Petitions for reconsideration under
Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission's rules, 47
C.F.R. $5 1.106, 1.115, may be filed within 30 days of the date of the public notice indicating that
this action was taken.



Document Created: 2004-08-19 10:14:32
Document Modified: 2004-08-19 10:14:32

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