Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20110510-00086 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2011051000086_888769

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


In the Matter of                                         )
                                                         )
SES AMERICOM, INC.                                       )     File No. SAT-MOD-___________
                                                         )     Call Sign S2135
Application for Modification of AMC-4                    )
Fixed-Satellite Space Station License                    )


                            REQUEST OF SES AMERICOM, INC.

               SES Americom, Inc. (“SES Americom,” doing business as “SES WORLD

SKIES”1), hereby respectfully requests modification of its license for the AMC-4 fixed-satellite

space station at 67° W.L. to reflect a slightly altered coverage pattern than what was originally

authorized for the satellite at this orbital location. Grant of the requested authority will enable

SES WORLD SKIES to provide enhanced service to the Caribbean and Central America in

response to customer demand.

               A completed FCC Form 312 is attached, and SES WORLD SKIES incorporates

by reference the technical information previously provided in support of AMC-4.2 In addition,

SES WORLD SKIES is providing information relating to the proposed modification to the

AMC-4 license in the attached Technical Appendix.




1
        SES WORLD SKIES is the commercial brand name for the integrated operations of two
indirect subsidiaries of SES S.A.: SES Americom and New Skies Satellites B.V. (effective
January 1, 2009). The brand name does not affect the underlying legal entities that hold
Commission authorizations or U.S. market access rights.
2
      See File Nos. SAT-LOA-19940310-00007; SAT-AMD-19941114-00064; SAT-MOD-
19970130-00012; SAT-MOD-19981023-00076; SAT-MOD-20080314-00072; & SAT-MOD-
20100623-00144.


                                        MODIFICATION

               AMC-4 is a C/Ku-band hybrid spacecraft operating at 67° W.L. with service in

the Ku-band only pursuant to the International Telecommunication Union (“ITU”) filings of the

Colombian Administration, as Notifying Administration for the Andean Community (“CAN”).3

In response to the service requirements of a new customer, SES WORLD SKIES seeks

modification of the AMC-4 license to reflect a slight repointing of the satellite to improve

service quality in the Caribbean and Central America. SES WORLD SKIES has already

implemented this change pursuant to a grant of Special Temporary Authority,4 and now seeks

modification of the AMC-4 license in order to retain the altered coverage configuration on a

long-term basis.

               As SES WORLD SKIES described in the AMC-4 STA Request, the repointing

involved a .1 degree change in the azimuth of the satellite in order to strengthen the signal levels

of the North American beam over the Caribbean and Central American regions.5 SES WORLD

SKIES adjusted the steerable South American beam to compensate for the satellite repointing

and maintain the original coverage of South America. Thus, no change in the footprint of the

AMC-4 South American beam is proposed.




3
       See Call Sign S2135, File No. SAT-MOD-20100623-00144, grant-stamped Nov. 4, 2010.
Specifically, AMC-4 is authorized to operate at 67° W.L. in the conventional Ku-band (11.7-
12.2 GHz downlinks and 14.0-14.5 GHz uplinks) and extended Ku-band (11.45-11.7 GHz
downlinks and 13.75-14.0 GHz uplinks). The satellite uses specific C-band frequencies for
command and telemetry, but the C-band payload is otherwise not authorized for operations at
67° W.L. See id.
4
        See Call Sign S2135, File No. SAT-STA-20110414-00072 (“AMC-4 STA Request”),
grant-stamped Apr. 21, 2011.
5
       See id., Narrative at 2.


                                                 2


               Retaining the revised orientation of AMC-4 will not adversely affect any other

operators. Contour maps showing the AMC-4 North American beam coverage area with the

original and revised orientations are included in the attached Technical Appendix. As the

Technical Appendix demonstrates, the very small shift in AMC-4’s North American antenna

coverage has a negligible effect on the interference environment in which adjacent satellites

operate. The operational Ku-band satellites adjacent to the 67°W.L. position are Star One C1 at

65°W.L. and Star One C2 at 70°W.L. Both are Brazilian-licensed satellites. The operations of

AMC-4 with the slight change in pointing discussed herein continue to be consistent with SES

WORLD SKIES’ coordination agreements, including its agreements with Brazil.6

               The Commission has generally permitted satellite operators the flexibility to

design and modify their networks in response to customer requirements, absent compelling

countervailing public interest considerations.7 Here, grant of the requested modification will

permit SES WORLD SKIES to operate AMC-4 with a coverage pattern that has been adjusted to

respond to customer demand.




6
      The reorientation has a slight impact on the C-band TT&C coverage pattern, but the
TT&C operations continue to comply with the terms of SES WORLD SKIES’ coordination
agreement with Star One.
7
         See, e.g. AMSC Subsidiary Corporation, 13 FCC Rcd 12316 at ¶ 8 (IB 1998) (the
Commission generally leaves space station design decisions to the licensee “because the licensee
is in a better position to determine how to tailor its system to meet the particular needs of its
customers.”) (footnote omitted).


                                                3


              For the foregoing reasons, SES WORLD SKIES respectfully requests

modification of the AMC-4 license to reflect repointing of the North American beam as

described herein.

                                           Respectfully submitted,

                                           SES AMERICOM, INC.

                                           By: /s/ Suzanne H. Malloy

Of Counsel                                     Suzanne H. Malloy
Karis A. Hastings                              Assistant Secretary
Hogan Lovells US LLP                           SES Americom, Inc.
555 13th Street, N.W.                          Four Research Way
Washington, D.C. 20004-1109                    Princeton, NJ 08540
Tel: (202) 637-5600

Dated: May 10, 2011




                                              4


                                  Technical Appendix

1.     Introduction
This technical appendix is submitted in support of the application of SES Americom, Inc.
(“SES Americom,” doing business as “SES WORLD SKIES”) for a modification of its
license for the AMC-4 spacecraft at 67° W.L. to reflect a slightly altered coverage
pattern than what was originally authorized for the satellite at this orbital location. SES
WORLD SKIES incorporates by reference herein the technical information it has already
provided with respect to AMC-4,1 and provides here technical information that is
changing as a result of the proposed modification.

2.     Gain Contours
SES WORLD SKIES is attaching contour maps (Figures 1 to 8) showing the original
and revised C-band and Ku-band EIRP patterns for typical horizontally and vertically
polarized transponders of AMC-4 at 67° W.L.2 The changes to the EIRP are so small
that they produce no visible change from the original contours provided.

3.     Link Budgets and Interference Analysis
An interference analysis was submitted to the Commission in connection with the initial
operation of AMC-4 at 67° W.L. demonstrating that operation of AMC-4 is compatible
with adjacent satellites and with the Commission’s two-degree spacing requirements.3
The analysis herein shows that the revised pointing of the AMC-4 North American beam
has a negligible impact on the interference environment for adjacent satellites.

SES WORLD SKIES calculated the impact of the repointing on EIRP values at
numerous receiver locations throughout CONUS, Canada, Mexico, Central America,
and the Caribbean region. In the vast majority of these locations, the difference
between the EIRP values with the original and revised pointing is very small, typically
within ±0.5 dB. The increase in Ku-band EIRP is greater than 2 dB at only two sites
(2.2 and 2.3 dB). In the C-band, the change in EIRP values with the repointing is within
±0.5 dB for all sites.

For example, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Ku-band EIRP for AMC-4 with the original
spacecraft orientation was in the range of 36 to 40 dBW. With the repointing, the range
is 38 to 41 dBW, an increase of between 1 and 2 dB. To determine the effect of a 2 dB

1
 See File Nos. SAT-LOA-19940310-00007; SAT-AMD-19941114-00064; SAT-MOD-
19970130-00012; SAT-MOD-19981023-00076; SAT-MOD-20080314-00072; & SAT-
MOD-20100623-00144.
2
  As discussed above, SES WORLD SKIES is only authorized to use the AMC-4 C-band
frequencies for TT&C, and the proposed minimal changes in the C-band coverage
conform to the existing coordination agreements relating to AMC-4 TT&C operations.
3
 See Call Sign S2434, File No. SAT-MOD-20100623-00144, Technical Appendix,
Annex 2.


increase in the EIRP, we have computed the C/I in a non-SES carrier from an orbital
location that is two degrees away from 67° W.L., serving the Caribbean and Central
America. The C/I computation is based on the following parameters:

    a) EIRP density of the wanted (i.e., non-SES) satellite: 5 dBW/4kHz
    b) EIRP of the interfering (SES) satellite: 36 dBW with original configuration of
       AMC-4, and 38 dBW with repointing
    c) Receive earth station diameter: 1.2 m
    d) Wanted carrier threshold C/N: 7.0 dB
    e) C/I in the victim carrier with interference from AMC-4 original configuration:
       25.6 dB
    f) C/I in the victim carrier with interference from AMC-4 after repointing: 23.6 dB
    g) C/(N+I) in victim carrier with interference from AMC-4 with original configuration:
       7.0 dB, at threshold
    h) C/N in victim carrier with interference from AMC-4 after re-pointing: 7.0 dB, at
       threshold

Thus, the repointing of AMC-4 results in a 0.5% change to the interference component
of the victim’s system noise temperature, from 1.7% to 2.2%. The interference level is
less than the 6% DeltaT/T ITU coordination trigger criteria; i.e., internationally, if a 6%
increase in noise temperature is not exceeded, then coordination is not needed
between the concerned networks.

The repointing has no impact on Canadian or Mexican satellite systems, as the closest
Canadian or Mexican FSS spacecraft to 67° W.L. is more than 40 degrees away. As
discussed above in the narrative, the closest adjacent Ku-band satellites to 67° W.L. are
licensed to Brazil. Operation of AMC-4 with the repointing discussed herein is
consistent with the terms of the existing coordination agreements applicable to
operation of AMC-4 and the Brazilian networks.

4.      Schedule S
As discussed above, the proposed modification of the AMC-4 license will not result in
any material changes to the spacecraft’s operating characteristics or to the interference
environment. As a result, the information requested in Schedule S duplicates
information that is already on file with the Commission concerning the technical
parameters of AMC-4’s operation. In similar cases involving requests for minor
operational changes, such as slight offsets from the nominal orbital position, the
Satellite Division has not required the submission of a new Schedule S.4 Accordingly,
SES WORLD SKIES is not filing a new Schedule S with this application. SES
Americom will nevertheless prepare and submit a Schedule S if requested to do so by
the Satellite Division.

4
 See, e.g., File No. SAT-MOD-20040405-00076 (PanAmSat request for authority to
operate SBS-6 at 74.05° W.L. rather than 74.0° W.L.).


                                             2


5.      Orbital Debris Mitigation Statement
The information required under Section 25.114(d)(14) of the Commission’s Rules
regarding operations of AMC-4 at 67° W.L. is already on file with the Commission,5 and
the proposed modification to reflect a change in the AMC-4 coverage pattern does not
alter the information previously provided.




5
 See Call Sign S2434, File No. SAT-MOD-20100623-00144, Technical Appendix,
Section 8.


                                          3


                                                                                                      Figure 1


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: Ku-band transponder 12, H-pol (down), original pointing
                                                                SES Americom AMC-4                                                    Ku-Band Transponder 12
                                                                67° West Longitude                                               Center Frequency 11940 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                            SATSOFT
                                                                EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                     H-Polarization Downlink

                                                                                                                                         0°
         80.00




                                                                                                                          10°




         60.00                                                  5°




                                      0°
      North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                42

                                                           46                                              38
         40.00
                                                                                                                       40
                                                                                                                  44
                                                                        50
                                                                                                                     48                                             42
                                                                                    5 25 2.4 7
                                                                                                                                    50         51              46

                                                                                                 51
                                                                                                                                    50
                                                                                                                                                                         38
                                                                               48
         20.00
                                                     10°                                                                                                  44
                                                                                      44
                                                                                                                                                                40
                                           5°
                                                                                                                                    46               48
                                                                                       40
                                                                                                                46
                                                                                            38
                                                                                                                                                    40


                                 0°                                                                                                  44
                                                                                                                            42                                                42

                         0.00                                                                                                                                             38


                                                                                                                                          38




                                          -140.00                    -120.00                          -100.00                        -80.00                              -60.00    -40.00
                                 12 Apr 2011                                                            East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                                 Figure 2


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: Ku-band transponder 12, H-pol (down), revised pointing

                                                        SES Americom AMC-4                                                     Ku-Band Transponder 12
                                                        67° West Longitude                                                Center Frequency 11940 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                          SATSO FT
                                                        EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                      H-Polarization Downlink

                                                                                                                                   0°
      80.00




                                                                                                                    10°




      60.00                                             5°




                                   0°
   North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                   42
                                                             44
                                                                                                        38
      40.00
                                                                                                                   40

                                                                       50                                     46
                                                                                                                   48                                        44 42
                                                                                 5 25 2 . 4 7
                                                                                                                              50             51
                                                                                                51
                                                                                                                              50
                                                                                                                                                                       38
                                                                            48
      20.00
                                             10°
                                                                                          46
                                                                                                                                                                 40
                                        5°                                                                                                                  46
                                                                                                                                                  48
                                                                                 38
                                                                                          40             44                                            44
                                                                                                                                        46        40


                              0°                                                                                                                                            42
                                                                                                                        42
                                                                                                                                                                      38
                     0.00


                                                                                                                              38




                                       -140.00                    -120.00                        -100.00                      -80.00                                  -60.00     -40.00
                              12 Apr 2011                                                          East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                                   Figure 3


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: Ku-band transponder 13, V-pol (down), original pointing
                                                      SES Americom AMC-4                                                                       Ku-Band Transponder 13
                                                      67° West Longitude                                                                  Center Frequency 11960 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SATSOFT
                                                      EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                                        V-Polarization Downlink

                                                                                                                                                0°
       80.00




                                                                                                                            10°




       60.00                                                                                                                                                                                             -3 0
                                                            5°




                                                             -2 0
                                                                                                                                                            -2 0                           -3 0

                                      0°
                                                                                                                                                                -2 5
     North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                                                                                       -1 5                      -2 5
                                                       -6
       40.00
                                                                                                                  -8                     -2 0
                                                                                                                                       -1 0
                                                                               -2                        -4                                                            -6
                                                                                                                                                           -4                                                               -3

                                                                                                                                                      5 2.3 9


                                                                                                                                                                                   -1 5
                                                                      -4                   -2                                                              -2
       20.00                                                                                                                                                             -8         -2 5
                                                10°
                                                                                                                                  -2                                                                        -3 0
                                                                                                        -8                               -4
                                           5°                                                                                                                                      -2 0
                                                                                                                       -6                             -6
                                                                                                                                                 -8
                                                                            -3 0                               -1 0
                                                                                    -2 5                                                                                                   -1 0
                                                                                                -1 5

                                 0°                                                                                                                                                               -2 5
                                                                                                   -2 0                                                                -2 0 -1 5

                      0.00                                                                              -2 5
                                                                                                       -3 0                                                             -2 5
                                                                    -3 0                                                                                                                                    -3 0


                                                                     -3 0
                                          -140.00                   -120.00                            -100.00                            -80.00                                     -60.00                        -40.00
                                12 Apr 2011                                                              East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                                    Figure 4


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: Ku-band transponder 13, V-pol(down), revised pointing

                                                     SES Americom AMC-4                                                                      Ku-Band Transponder 13
                                                     67° West Longitude                                                                 Center Frequency 11960 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SATSOFT
                                                     EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                                       V-Polarization Downlink

                                                                                                                                           0°
      80.00




                                                                                                                          10°




      60.00                                                                                                                                                                                               -3 0
                                                        5°




                                                                                                                                                             -2 0                           -3 0

                                     0°                                                                                          -2 0
                                                                                                                                                             -2 5
    North Latitude (Degrees)




                                               -6                                                                         -1 5                  -2 5
      40.00
                                                                                                                -8
                                                                                                                                  -1 0
                                                                              -2                                                                                    -6
                                                        -4                                                                                                                                                                    -3

                                                                                                                                                   5 2.3 9
                                                                                                                          -4                                             -4
                                                                                                                                                                                     -1 5

                                                                                          -2                                                            -2
      20.00                                                                                                                                                         -8               -2 5
                                               10°                                                                                                                            -2 0
                                                                                                                                 -2                                                                         -3 0
                                                                                               -8
                                          5°                                                                              -4
                                                                                                                     -6
                                                                                                                                                   -6

                                                                                           -1 5          -1 0
                                                                           -3 0                                                                   -8
                                                                                   -2 5                                                                                                     -1 0

                                0°                                                                                                                                                                 -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                    -1 5
                                                                                                      -2 0
                                                                                                                                                                      -2 0
                      0.00                                                                            -2 5
                                                                                                     -3 0                                                           -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                            -3 0
                                                             -3 0

                                                                    -3 0

                                         -140.00              -120.00                               -100.00                              -80.00                                       -60.00                       -40.00
                               12 Apr 2011                                                            East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                          Figure 5


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: C-band transponder 12, H-pol (down), original pointing

                                                        SES Americom AMC-4                                                  C-Band Transponder 12
                                                        67° West Longitude                                            Center Frequency 3940 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                             SATSOFT
                                                        EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                 H-Polarization Downlink
                                                                                                                         0°
     80.00




                                                                                                         10°




     60.00                                                 5°




                                             36
                                                                                                                      30
                                   0°
   North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                                                                                    34        32
                                                                                                               36
     40.00
                                                                   40                                    38

                                                                                                  39                                                       36
                                                                          41

                                                                                                                                   40
                                                                                4 1.5 2
                                                                                                                                                                          30



     20.00                                                                     39                         40
                                                  10°                                                                                                    36 34
                                                                                     38
                                        5°                                      36
                                                                                                                                                                 32
                                                                                                                                             3938
                                                                                32   34
                                                                                     30
                                                                                                        36
                                                                                                                                               36
                                                                                                                                                                     36
                              0°
                                                                                                                                                    34
                    0.00                                                                                                                                                       30
                                                                                                                                        32


                                                                                                                         30
                                       -140.00                  -120.00                   -100.00                    -80.00                                 -60.00                  -40.00
                              12 Apr 2011                                                   East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                          Figure 6


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: C-band transponder 12, H-pol(down), revised pointing

                                                        SES Americom AMC-4                                                  C-Band Transponder 12
                                                        67° West Longitude                                            Center Frequency 3940 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                             SATSOFT
                                                        EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                 H-Polarization Downlink
                                                                                                                         0°
     80.00




                                                                                                         10°




     60.00                                                 5°




                                             36
                                                                                                                      30
                                   0°
   North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                                                                                    34        32
                                                                                                               36
     40.00
                                                                   40                                    38

                                                                                                  39                                                       36
                                                                          41

                                                                                                                                   40
                                                                                4 1.5 2
                                                                                                                                                                          30



     20.00                                                                     39                         40
                                                  10°                                                                                                    36 34
                                                                                     38
                                        5°                                      36
                                                                                                                                                                 32
                                                                                                                                             3938
                                                                                32   34
                                                                                     30
                                                                                                        36
                                                                                                                                               36
                                                                                                                                                                     36
                              0°
                                                                                                                                                    34
                     0.00                                                                                                                                                      30
                                                                                                                                        32


                                                                                                                         30
                                       -140.00                  -120.00                   -100.00                    -80.00                                 -60.00                  -40.00
                              12 Apr 2011                                                   East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                                                    Figure 7


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: C-band transponder 12, V-pol(down), original pointing
                                                                SES Americom AMC-4                                                                        C-Band Transponder 13
                                                                67° West Longitude                                                                  Center Frequency 3960 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 SATSOFT
                                                                EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                                       V-Polarization Downlink

                 80.00




                                                                                        5°                                        10°




                                                       0°
                 60.00




                                                                                                                                                        -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                      -2 0


                                                                                                                                             -8                                             -1 5
                                                                                                                                   -6                  -1 0

                 40.00                                                                                                                  -4
   North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                                                                                                                                                                   -2 0
                                                                                                                         -2


                                                                                        41.72
                                                                                                                                   -2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           -
                                                  5°
                                                                                                                                                        -2
                 20.00                                                                  -2
                                                        10°                                                                                                         -6                                                      -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                          -8
                                      0°                                                             -4                                                                                  -2 0                             -3 0
                                                                                                -6                                                                                   -1 5
                                                                                                                                                             -4                                                    -2 5
                                                                                 -1 5                     -8
                                           -1 0                                          -2 0

                                                                                                                           -1 0                               -6

                                                                                                                                                                                         -1 0
                              0.00                                                                                  -2 5                                      -8
                                                                                        -2 5
                                                              -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                                  -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -3 0
                                                                                    -2 0                                                                           -1 5
                                                                                                                                                                          -2 0                              -2 5
                                                                                                          -2 0


         -20.00
                                      0°                                                                                                                                             -3 0
                                                  5°
                                                                                                                                   -2 5
                                              -140.00                  -120.00                                 -100.00                     -80.00                        -60.00                    -40.00
                                     12 Apr 2011                                                                         East Longitude (Degrees)


                                                                                                                  Figure 8


EIRP Pattern of AMC-4: C-band transponder 12, V-pol(down), revised pointing

                                                            SES Americom AMC-4                                                                           C-Band Transponder 13
                                                            67° West Longitude                                                                     Center Frequency 3960 MHz




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     SATSOFT
                                                            EIRP Contour (dBW)                                                                          V-Polarization Downlink

                   80.00




                                                                                     5°                                   10°




                                                     0°
                   60.00




                                                                                                                                                           -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                            -2 0


                                                                                                                                       -8   -1 0                                                -1 5
                                                                                                                          -6

                   40.00                                                                                                          -4
      North Latitude (Degrees)




                                                                                                                                                                                                         -2 0
                                                                                                                  -2


                                                                                      4 1.7 2

                                                                                                                            -2
                                                5°
                                                                               -2                                                                          -2
                   20.00                                                                                                                                               -6                                                       -2 5
                                                      10°                                                                                                                   -8
                                         0°                                                 -4                                                                                              -2 0                              -3 0
                                                                             -1 0                -6                                                                                -1 0 -1 5                           -2 5
                                                                              -1 5                    -8                                                    -4
                                                                                       -2 0


                                                                                                                                                                 -6

                                 0.00                                                                             -2 5                                            -8
                                                                                     -2 5
                                                            -2 5
                                                                                                                                                    -1 0                             -2 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              -3 0
                                                                                    -2 0
                                                                                                                                                                  -1 5                                          -2 5
                                                                                                           -2 0                                                             -2 0



            -20.00
                                         0°                                                                                                                                              -3 0
                                                5°
                                                                                                                               -2 5
                                                 -140.00           -120.00                             -100.00                       -80.00                              -60.00                        -40.00
                                        12 Apr 2011                                                                East Longitude (Degrees)


                     DECLARATION OF KRISH JONNALAGADDA

              I, Krish Jonnalagadda, hereby certify under penalty of perjury that I am the
technically qualified person responsible for preparation of the technical information
contained in the foregoing exhibit; that I am familiar with the technical requirements of
Part 25; and that I either prepared or reviewed the technical information contained in the
exhibit and that it is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge, information
and belief.

                                                /s/ Krish Jonnalagadda
                                                SES Americom, Inc.

Dated: May 10, 2011



Document Created: 2011-05-10 13:47:25
Document Modified: 2011-05-10 13:47:25

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