Attachment Narrative & Exhibits

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20121002-00176 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2012100200176_970060

                                         Before the
                             Federal Communications Commission
                                    Washington, DC 20554



      In the Matter of

      Intelsat License LLC                             File No. SAT-MOD- _____________

      Application to Modify Authorization for
      Intelsat 5 (S2704)




                      APPLICATION OF INTELSAT LICENSE LLC
                    TO MODIFY AUTHORIZATION FOR INTELSAT 5

       Intelsat License LLC (“Intelsat”), pursuant to Section 25.117 of the rules of the Federal

Communications Commission (“Commission” or “FCC”), 47 C.F.R. § 25.117, hereby seeks to

modify the authorization for the Intelsat 5 satellite (Call Sign S2704). Specifically, Intelsat seeks

to extend the license term for the Intelsat 5 satellite through December 31, 2020, which is the

current projected end of service life taking into consideration the satellite’s planned relocation to

65.45° E.L. and commencement of inclined orbit operations.1

       In accordance with the requirements of the Commission’s rules,2 this application has

been filed electronically as an attachment to FCC Form 312. Intelsat incorporates by reference

the technical information previously provided regarding the operations of Intelsat 5.3 Consistent


1
       See Intelsat License LCC, Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SAT-STA-
20120911-00147 (filed Sept. 11, 2012) (seeking authority for the relocation of Intelsat 5 to
65.45° E.L. commencing October 21, 2012 and noting that Intelsat 5 would begin inclined orbit
operations upon commencement of the drift).
2
       47 C.F.R. § 25.117(c).
3
        The most recent technical information submitted to the Commission relating to Intelsat 5
is found in SAT-MOD-20080725-00150, which was granted on October 24, 2008. See Policy


with Section 1.62 of the Commission’s rules, Intelsat will continue to operate the Intelsat 5

satellite pursuant to the terms and conditions of its expiring license, as modified by any decision

with respect to the pending STA request,4 until such time as the Commission makes a final

determination with respect to this request.

I.     REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF LICENSE TERM

       Intelsat seeks to extend the license term for the Intelsat 5 satellite through December 31,

2020. The Intelsat 5 satellite was placed into service on October 25, 1997.5 Pursuant to Sections

25.121(a) and (d)(1) of the Commission’s rules, the license term for Intelsat 5 will expire on

October 25, 2012.6 That expiration date is well before the expected end of service life of the

satellite. Taking into consideration the satellite’s planned relocation to 65.45° E.L. and

commencement of inclined orbit operations in October 2012, the current projected end of service

life date is December 31, 2020.7 The current expiration date is also well in advance of the end of

maneuver life of the Intelsat 5 satellite. Based on current projections, and assuming inclined

orbit operation, Intelsat 5 should have sufficient fuel to continue maneuvers through 2033. The

Branch Information; Actions Taken, Report No. SAT-00561, File No. SAT-MOD-20080725-
00150 (Oct. 24, 2008).
4
       See supra n. 1
5
       PanAmSat Corp., Order and Authorization, 13 FCC Rcd 4743 (1997).
6
       47 C.F.R. §§ 25.121(a) & (d)(1).
7
         The January 2014 projected end of service life specified in Intelsat’s registration
statement filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on Form F-1 for the Intelsat 5 satellite
was based on operations as of June 30, 2012 and did not take into consideration the satellite’s
planned relocation and inclined orbit operation. See Amendment No. 2 to Form F-1 Registration
Statement, Intelsat Global Holdings S.A. (Aug. 8, 2012) available at
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1525773/000119312512343475/d204908df1a.htm.
Intelsat anticipates filing a future amendment to the Form F-1 at the Securities Exchange
Commission that specifies December 2020 as the projected end of service life for the Intelsat 5
satellite.


                                                -2-


FCC recently has extended a satellite license term based on projected end of service life rather

than end of maneuver life.8 Accordingly, Intelsat herein is seeking an extension of the Intelsat 5

license term based on the satellite’s current projected end of service life taking into consideration

the planned relocation and commencement of inclined orbit operations. To the extent the

satellite’s projected end of service life is extended in the future, Intelsat will seek an additional

license term extension.

II.    PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWING

       Grant of this modification to extend the license will serve the public interest by enabling

customers to continue receiving service from Intelsat 5. Extending the license term will also

promote the continued efficient use of orbital resources. Moreover, extending the license term of

the Intelsat 5 satellite will not affect the satellite’s post-mission disposal plan.9 As approved in

in a 2008 modification application, Intelsat intends to dispose of the Intelsat 5 satellite by




8
       Application to Modify Authorization for Galaxy 25 to Extend the License Term, File No.
SAT-MOD-20120320-00057 (stamp grant 09/27/12); Policy Branch Information; Satellite Space
Applications Accepted for Filing, Report No. SAT-00878, File No. SAT-MOD-20120320-00057
(June 29, 2012); see also Letter from Susan H. Crandall, Intelsat, to Marlene H. Dortch, FCC,
File No. SAT−MOD−20120320−00057 (June 20, 2012).
9
         The Commission already has approved a post-mission disposal plan for the Intelsat 5
satellite. See Policy Branch Information; Actions Taken, Report No. SAT-00561, File No. SAT-
MOD-20080725-00150 (Oct. 24, 2008) (Public Notice). Intelsat notes that the Satellite Industry
Association’s pending request for blanket waiver of Section 25.283(c) incorrectly included the
Intelsat 5 satellite. Pleading Cycle Established for Comment on Satellite Industry Association’s
Blanket Waiver Request Concerning Relieving Satellite Pressure Vessels, IB Docket No. 02-54,
DA 10-2291 (Dec. 14, 2010) (Public Notice).


                                                  -3-


moving it to a minimum altitude of 150 kilometers above the geostationary arc.10 Intelsat has

reserved 21.2 kilograms of fuel for this purpose.11

III.   CONCLUSION

       For the reasons set forth above, Intelsat respectfully requests that the Commission grant

this modification application.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,
                                                      Intelsat License LLC

                                                      By: /s/ Susan H. Crandall

                                                      Susan H. Crandall
                                                      Assistant General Counsel
                                                      Intelsat Corporation
Jennifer D. Hindin
Colleen King
WILEY REIN LLP
1776 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

October 2, 2012




10
     See Policy Branch Information; Actions Taken, Report No. SAT-00561, File No. SAT-
MOD-20080725-00150 (Oct. 24, 2008) (Public Notice).
11
        The Commission has found that satellites launched prior to March 18, 2002, such as
Intelsat 5, would be designated as grandfathered satellites not subject to a specific disposal
altitude. See Mitigation of Orbital Debris, Second Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 11567,
11600-01 (2004).


                                                -4-


                                           Exhibit A
               FCC Form 312, Response to Question 34: Foreign Ownership


        The Commission previously approved foreign ownership in Intelsat License LLC
(“Intelsat”), in the Intelsat-Serafina Order.1 In December 2009 and October 2011, the
Commission also approved pro forma changes in Intelsat’s foreign ownership.2 There have been
no other material changes to Intelsat’s foreign ownership since the date of the Intelsat-Serafina
Order.




1
      Intelsat Holdings, Ltd. and Serafina Holdings Limited, Consolidated Application for
Consent to Transfer of Control of Holders of Title II and Title III Authorizations, Memorandum
Opinion and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 22,151 (2007).
2
       See Intelsat North America LLC, Intelsat LLC, PanAmSat Licensee Corp., PanAmSat H-2
Licensee Corp., and Intelsat New Dawn Company, Ltd., Applications for Pro Forma Transfer of
Control, File Nos. SAT-T/C-20091125-00128, SAT-T/C-20091125-00124, SAT-T/C-20091125-
00127, SAT-T/C-20091125-00125, SAT-T/C-20091125-00126, SES-T/C-20091125-01505,
SES-T/C-20091125-01502, SES-T/C-20091125-01506, SES-T/C-20091125-01504 and SES-
T/C-20091125-01503 (granted Dec. 3, 2009); Intelsat Application for Pro Forma Transfer of
Control, File Nos. SAT-T/C-20110810-00160, SAT-T/C-20110811-00161, SES-T/C-20110811-
00948, SES-T/C-20110812-00963 (granted Oct. 13, 2011), and 0004825139 (granted Oct. 19,
2011).


                                             Exhibit B
             FCC Form 312, Response to Question 36: Cancelled Authorizations


Intelsat License LLC (“Intelsat”) has never had an FCC license “revoked.” However, on June
26, 2000, the International Bureau “cancelled” two Ka-band satellite authorizations issued to a
former Intelsat entity, PanAmSat Licensee Corp. (“PanAmSat”),3 based on the Bureau’s finding
that PanAmSat had not satisfied applicable construction milestones.4 In that same order, the
Bureau denied related applications to modify the cancelled authorizations. PanAmSat filed an
application for review of the Bureau’s decision, which the Commission denied, and subsequently
filed an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,
which was dismissed in January 2003 at PanAmSat’s request. Notwithstanding the fact that the
Bureau’s action does not seem to be the kind of revocation action contemplated by question 36,
Intelsat is herein making note of the decision in the interest of absolute candor and out of an
abundance of caution. In any event, the Bureau’s action with respect to PanAmSat does not
reflect on Intelsat’s basic qualifications, which are well-established and a matter of public record.




3
       All licenses previously held by PanAmSat Licensee Corp. have been assigned to Intelsat
License LLC. See IBFS File Nos. SAT-ASG-20101203-00252 (granted Dec. 23, 2010), SES-
ASG-20101203-0150 (granted Dec. 20, 2010), and SES-ASG-20101206-01502 (granted Dec.
20, 2010).
4
       See PanAmSat Licensee Corp., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 18720 (IB
2000).


                                          Exhibit C
                          FCC Form 312, Response to Question 40:
                Officers, Directors, and Ten Percent or Greater Shareholders

The officers and directors/managers of Intelsat License LLC are as follows:
Officers:
Michael McDonnell, Chairman
Flavien Bachabi, Deputy Chairman
Phillip Spector, Secretary
Simon Van De Weg, Director, Finance

Board of Managers:
Michael McDonnell
Flavien Bachabi
Phillip Spector

The business address of all Intelsat License LLC officers and members of the Board of Managers
is:

4 rue Albert Borschette
L-1246 Luxembourg

Intelsat License LLC is a Delaware limited liability company that is wholly owned by Intelsat
License Holdings LLC, also a Delaware limited liability company. Intelsat License Holdings
LLC is wholly owned by Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A., a Luxembourg company. Intelsat
Jackson Holdings S.A. is wholly owned by Intelsat (Luxembourg) S.A., a Luxembourg
company. Intelsat (Luxembourg) S.A. is wholly owned by Intelsat S.A., a Luxembourg
company. Intelsat S.A. is wholly owned by Intelsat Holdings S.A., a Luxembourg company.
Intelsat Holdings S.A. is wholly owned by Intelsat Investment Holdings S.à r.l., a Luxembourg
company. Intelsat Investment Holdings S.à r.l. is wholly owned by Intelsat Global Holdings
S.A., a Luxembourg company. Each of these entities may be contacted at the following address:
4 rue Albert Borschette, L-1246 Luxembourg.
Intelsat Global Holding S.A.’s ownership was approved by the Commission as part of the
Intelsat-Serafina Order and the recent Intelsat Pro Forma and is incorporated by reference. See
Intelsat Holdings, Ltd. and Serafina Holdings Limited, Consolidated Application for Consent to
Transfer of Control of Holders of Title II and Title III Authorizations, Memorandum Opinion and
Order, 22 FCC Rcd 22,151 (2007) (“Intelsat-Serafina Order”); Intelsat Application for Pro
Forma Transfer of Control, File Nos. SAT-T/C-20110810-00160, SAT-T/C-20110811-00161,
SES-T/C-20110811-00948, SES-T/C-20110812-00963 (granted Oct. 13, 2011), and 0004825139
(granted Oct. 19, 2011) (“Intelsat Pro Forma”). On May 16, 2012, the International Bureau
granted an application to transfer control of Intelsat pursuant to a public offering of newly issued
voting shares by Intelsat, subsequent voting share sales by current shareholders and possible
private placements of newly issued voting shares. In the Matter of Intelsat Global Holdings,
S.A., Applications to Transfer Control of Intelsat Licenses and Authorizations from BC Partners
Holdings Limited to Public Ownership, Order, DA 12-768 (rel. May 16, 2012). This transaction
has not yet been consummated.



Document Created: 2012-10-02 17:23:45
Document Modified: 2012-10-02 17:23:45

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