COMMENTS OF SES S.A.

REPLY submitted by O3b Limited

Comments of SES S.A. and O3b Limited

2017-06-26

This document pretains to SAT-LOA-20161115-00113 for Application to Launch and Operate on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATLOA2016111500113_1241813

July 7, 2017
Ms. Marlene Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
455 12th Street SW
Washington DC 20554


    Re: Reply Comments on Additional NGSO-Like Satellite Applications or Petitions
     for Operations in the 12.75-13.25 GHz, 13.85-14.0 GHz, 18.6-18.8 GHz, 19.3-20.2
                        GHz, and 29.1-29.5 GHz bands, DA 17-524
Dear Ms. Dortch:
       Hughes Network Systems, LLC (“Hughes”) provides these reply comments in
response to the Public Notice dated May 26, 2017 (DA 17-524), requesting comments on
several applications for non-geostationary orbit (“NGSO”) satellite systems seeking to
operate in the 12.75-13.25 GHz, 13.85-14.0 GHz, 18.6-18.8 GHz, 19.3-20.2 GHz, and 29.1-
29.5 GHz bands.1
        As discussed below, Hughes, an FCC licensed geostationary orbit (“GSO”) satellite
operator in portions of the 18.6-18.8 GHz, 19.3-20.2 GHz, and 29.1-29.5 GHz bands
(collectively, “the Ka band”),2 supports concerns raised in initial comments related to the
single-entry and aggregate EPFD limits contained in Article 22 of the International
Telecommunications Union (“ITU”) Radio Regulations and Resolution 76 (Rev. WRC-15),
respectively. Further, Hughes supports Inmarsat, Inc.’s (“Inmarsat”)3 comments about
ViaSat, Inc.’s (“ViaSat”)4 proposal to utilize portions of the Ka band to support links

1
  Telesat Canada Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the Telesat System,
IBFS File No. SAT-PDR-20161115-00108; The Boeing Company Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting
Access to the U.S. Market for the Boeing System, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00109 (the “Boeing
Application”); Space Norway AS Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the
Space Norway System, IBFS File No. SAT-PDR-20161115-00111; LeoSat MA, Inc. Petition for Declaratory
Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the LeoSat System, IBFS File No. SAT-PDR-20161115-
00112; Karousel LLC Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the Karousel
System, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00113; O3b Limited Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting
Access to the U.S. Market for the O3b System, IBFS File No. SAT-AMD-20161115-00116; Audacy
Corporation Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the Audacy System,
IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00117; Space Exploration Holdings, LLC Petition for Declaratory
Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the SpaceX System, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-
00118 (the “SpaceX Application”); ViaSat, Inc. Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S.
Market for the ViaSat System, IBFS File No. SAT-PDR-20161115-00120 (the “ViaSat Application”); Theia
Holdings A, Inc. Petition for Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. Market for the Theia System,
IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00121
2
  Hughes is authorized to use 18.6-18.8 GHz, 19.7-20.2 GHz, and 29.25-29.5 GHz under three FCC space
station licenses (call signs S2663, S2753, and S2834).
3
  Inmarsat, Inc., Petition to Deny application of ViaSat, Inc., IBFS File No. SAT-PDR-20161115-00120 (the
“Inmarsat Petition to Deny”).
4
  ViaSat Application, supra note 1, call sign S2985.


between medium earth orbit (“MEO”) NGSO and GSO satellites, and reiterates that
consideration of this proposal should be deferred until appropriate studies are concluded and
appropriate technical and operational rules for MEO-to-GSO links are adopted. Finally,
Hughes supports the comments of WorldVu Satellites Ltd. d/b/a OneWeb (“OneWeb”),5
regarding SpaceX’s request for waivers of rules imposing buildout milestones and treaty-
mandated PFD restrictions, as well as Boeing’s proposal for a three-tiered, open ended
milestone schedule, as these requests are not in the public interest.
EPFD Compliance Issues
       As a GSO satellite operator, Hughes agrees with ViaSat that the FCC needs to
implement aggregate EPFD limits that will ensure that the proposed NGSO systems will not
cause harmful interference to existing GSO systems.6 Hughes supports ViaSat’s request to:
        (i) condition[] any grant of authority on the outcome of the pending NGSO
        rulemaking proceeding in IB Docket No. 16-408; and (ii) mak[e] clear that,
        unless and until suitable aggregate limits and related enforcement
        mechanisms are adopted, each and every NGSO operator is responsible for
        immediately implementing whatever technical or operational changes are
        necessary to protect GSO operations from harmful interference.7
Accordingly, Hughes reiterates its support for the FCC to adopt an approach consistent with
the Commission’s proposal in the NGSO NPRM proceeding.8 In that proceeding, the
Commission proposed to codify the NGSO EPFD limits contained in Article 22 of the ITU
Radio Regulations for the 17.8-18.6 GHz, 19.7-20.2 GHz, 27.5-28.35 GHz, and 29.5-30.0
GHz bands.9
        Hughes also continues to urge the adoption of a realistic and practicable mechanism
to ensure that aggregate EPFD limits established in ITU Resolution 76 are met by all licensed
NGSO systems in the United States. As there has never been an environment of multiple
NGSO systems, the only mechanism that will guarantee sufficient protection to GSO
operations at this time are the aggregate EPFD limits. Irrespective of the likelihood of
concurrent worst case scenarios, there is still a substantial probability that compliance by
individual NGSO systems with single-entry EPFD limits will be insufficient to protect GSO
FSS operations. Therefore, regulations should consider an enforcement mechanism for to
ensure compliance with such aggregate EPFD limits.


5
  WorldVu Satellites Ltd., comments on SpaceX Application, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00118
(the “OneWeb Comments on the SpaceX Application”); WorldVu Satellites Ltd., comments on Boeing
Application, IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20161115-00109 (the “OneWeb Comments on the Boeing
Application”).
6
  ViaSat, Inc., Petition to Deny or Impose Conditions (“ViaSat Petition to Deny”), pp.2-3 (filed June 26,
2017).
7
  Id. at 3.
8
  Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non-Geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related
Matters, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 31 FCC Rcd 13651 (2016) (“NGSO NPRM”). See EchoStar
Satellite Operating Corporation and Hughes Network Systems, LLC Reply Comments in IB Dkt. No. 16-408
filed April 10, 2017.
9
  See Reply Comments of EchoStar Satellite Operating Corp. and Hughes Network Systems, LLC, Update to
Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non-Geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters, IB
Docket No. 16-408, at 8 (filed April 10, 2017).


ViaSat Application MEO-to-GSO links
       Inmarsat also raises concerns with ViaSat’s use of fixed satellite spectrum for MEO-
to-GSO inter-satellite links. Inmarsat correctly notes that MEO-to-GSO links as proposed
by ViaSat complicate the upward EPFD analysis:
         [T]he bands where ViaSat proposes to operate satellite-to-satellite links are
         highly utilized by GSO FSS satellites which stand to be joined soon by a
         plethora of NGSO FSS satellites. This heavy level of use creates a contested
         interference environment. ViaSat itself has raised concerns that the current
         equivalent power-flux density (“EPFD”) limits, which were adopted 20 years
         ago, may not be sufficient to protect current and future GSO FSS satellites.
         Introducing new sources of interference from NGSO-satellite-to-GSO-
         satellite transmissions would only exacerbate the potential for interference
         to GSO FSS satellites.10
        Hughes agrees that this issue must be considered for MEO-to-GSO links outside of
the inter-satellite service in the FSS frequency bands suggested by ViaSat (27.5-29.1 GHz
and 29.5-30.0 GHz for MEO-to-GSO transmissions, and 17.8-19.3 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz
for GSO-to-MEO transmissions). Accordingly, Hughes reiterates its request that
consideration of ViaSat’s application requesting use of portions of the Ka band for MEO-to-
GSO links be deferred until appropriate studies are concluded and appropriate technical and
operational rules for MEO-to-GSO links are adopted.11 Hughes further requests that any
such use be subject to suitable single-entry and aggregate EPFD limits to be adopted in the
NGSO NPRM.
SpaceX Application Waiver Requests
       Hughes supports OneWeb’s objections to two waiver requests in the SpaceX
Application: the Commission’s milestone obligations12 and downlink PFD requirements.13
Neither of these waiver requests is in the public interest, and both should be denied.
       FCC license milestone obligations ensure that all market participants have fair
opportunity access to orbital and spectrum resources without warehousing.14 The requested
waiver of the milestones could result in an inefficient use of the spectrum; something that
milestones expressly protect against. Further, waiver of the milestones would hamper the
coordination process between NGSO and GSO operators in the Ka band, impacting the near-
term use of spectrum while there remains a possibility that additional satellites will be
launched.



10
   Inmarsat Petition to Deny, supra note 5, p.4 (internal citations omitted); see also ViaSat Petition to Deny,
supra note 10, p.2 (citing aggregate uplink interference as an issue that should be resolved in the NGSO
NPRM).
11
   Hughes Letter, supra note 9, p.4.
12
   47 C.F.R. § 25.164(b).
13
   47 C.F.R. § 25.208(e).
14
   47 C.F.R. § 25.164(b); In re Amendment of Commission’s Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies,
First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 18 FCC Rcd 10760, 10827-28 ¶ 173-
175 (2003).


        Further, SpaceX’s requested waiver of the downlink PFD limits in the 18.8-19.3 GHz
band increases the risk of interference to space-to-Earth links that Hughes is authorized to
use in the United States.15 Although GSO use of this band is on a non-interference basis to
NGSOs, the requested waiver would affect all users of the 18.8-19.3 GHz band and change
the conditions established by Section 25.208(e), upon which Hughes based its decision to
operate on a non-interference basis.16 SpaceX’s waiver request, if granted, could have an
impact on Hughes’ current and future broadband satellite systems, and would contravene the
obligations imposed by Article 21 of the Radio Regulations. 17 In order to protect against
harmful interference, the FCC should deny this waiver request or impose conditions to
protect all existing operations.
Boeing Application Milestone Requests
        Hughes supports OneWeb’s comments on the Boeing Application objecting to
Boeing’s requested three-tier milestone schedule.18 While Boeing’s request is less open-
ended than that proposed by SpaceX,19 it still would result in possible spectrum speculation.
Grant of Boeing’s request would effectively remove its incentive to deploy its entire
constellation in a timely manner and could result in an inefficient use of spectrum that
milestones protect against. Further, it would complicate coordination between NGSO and
GSO operators when an unknown number of additional NGSO satellites could be launched.
For these reasons, Boeing’s proposal for a milestone schedule would not service the public
interest and should be denied.
Conclusion
        Based on the foregoing, Hughes requests that the Commission take the following
actions:
         1) adopt appropriate aggregate EPFD limits for NGSO systems in the Ka band and
            conditions NGSO operation on compliance with those limits;
         2) defer consideration of the ViaSat application for use of portions of the Ka band
            for satellite-to-satellite links until studies are concluded that ensure protection of
            GSO FSS operations in these bands;
         3) deny SpaceX’s requested waivers of milestone and downlink PFD rules; and
         4) deny Boeing’s request for a three-tiered milestone schedule.




15
   Hughes is authorized to use the 18.8-19.3 GHz band on a non-interference basis under two space station
licenses, call signs S2753 and S2834.
16
   See, e.g., Amateur Radio Service, Final Rule, 68 Fed. Reg. 33020 (June 3, 2003) (denying petition for
secondary allocation to amateur service at 135.7-137.8 kHz and 160-190 kHz because of incumbent power
line carrier systems operating on a non-interference basis in these bands); WRC-12 Implementation Report
and Order, 82 Fed. Reg. 27178 (June 14, 2017) (imposing coordination requirement and waiting period for
licensed amateur service stations wishing to wishing to use secondary allocations at 135.7-137.8 kHz and
472-479 kHz, in which power line carrier systems operate on a non-interference basis).
17
   ITU Radio Regulations, Edition of 2016, Table 21-4, No. 21.16.6, incorporated at 47 CFR 25.208(e).
18
   Boeing Application, pp. 23-24 (filed November 15, 2016).
19
   Boeing agrees to the six-year requirement for the first phase of its deployment. Id. at 24. Boeing requests a
ten-year requirement for the second phase of its deployment (comprising 20 additional satellites) (id. at 10),
and no deployment date required for the third phase thirty satellites (id. at 24-25).


       Such actions will ensure that both GSO and NGSO satellites can operate
successfully in the 18.6-20.2 GHz and 27.5-30 GHz bands and protect against spectrum
speculation.


                                           Respectfully,
                                           /s/Jennifer A. Manner
                                           _________________________
                                           Jennifer A. Manner
                                           Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
                                           Hughes Network Systems, LLC
                                           11717 Exploration Lane
                                           Germantown, MD 20876
                                           (301) 428-5893
                                           /s/ Brennan Price
                                           _________________________
                                           Brennan Price
                                           Senior Principal Engineer, Regulatory Affairs
                                           Hughes Network Systems, LLC
                                           11717 Exploration Lane
                                           Germantown, MD 20876
                                           (301) 428-1654




cc:    Jose Albuquerque
       Kerry Murray
       Bob Nelson
       Stephen Duall















Document Created: 2017-06-26 15:43:30
Document Modified: 2017-06-26 15:43:30

© 2024 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC