Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20141202-00124 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2014120200124_1070308

Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) DG Consents Sub, Inc. ) File No. SAT-MOD-20141202- ) Call Sign S2144 Application for Modification to Extend the ) License Term of the IKONOS Space Station ) APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION TO EXTEND LICENSE TERM DG Consents Sub, Inc. (“DG Consents”), pursuant to Section 25.117 of the FCC’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 25.117, hereby requests modification of the authorization for its IKONOS space station (Call Sign S2144) to extend the license term for an additional three years.1 The current expiration date for the IKONOS license is December 14, 2014. With the grant of this modification request, the new expiration date will be December 14, 2017. No other change to the existing authorization is requested herein and DG Consents certifies that the remaining authorization information has not changed.2 IKONOS was launched and placed into orbit in September 1999. Since that time, IKONOS has served as a critical component of the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (“EESS”) network operated initially by GeoEye and today by its successor entity, DigitalGlobe. Together 1 DG Consents Sub, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DigitalGlobe, Inc. (“DigitalGlobe”). The Commission’s authorization for the IKONOS satellite was assigned to DG Consents Sub following the merger of DigitalGlobe and GeoEye, Inc. (“GeoEye”) in 2013. See File No. SAT- ASG-20131104-00128 (granted Nov. 19, 2013). 2 See 47 C.F.R. § 25.117(c).

with the other EESS satellites comprising the DigitalGlobe network, IKONOS provides high resolution earth imagery products and services to customers worldwide. The request for an extended three-year license term is amply warranted. Although the estimated service life of IKONOS at the time of launch was seven years, the satellite continues to operate beyond its design lifetime well into its fifteenth year of service. All space station subsystems are operating nominally, and there is no indication of component loss that would contribute to the end of service life over the next three years. Moreover, DG Consents projects that IKONOS has sufficient fuel to maintain its current orbital altitude and inclination until at least the end of 2017 and DG Consents has no plans to move the satellite from its current orbital location or inclination. The IKONOS post-mission disposal plan submitted by GeoEye Inc. to, and approved by, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) remains in place and is unaffected by the instant request for a three-year license term extension. Grant of the requested license term extension will serve the public interest by enabling DigitalGlobe to continue to serve as a leading and reliable source of high resolution digital imaging to its defense, intelligence and commercial customers around the world. Extending the license term will also promote the continued efficient use of the orbital spectrum resource.

For the foregoing reasons, DG Consents respectfully requests that the Commission extend the license term for the IKONOS space station for three years, through December 14, 2017. Respectfully submitted, DIGITALGLOBE, INC. By: /s/ Philip A. Bonomo Philip A. Bonomo Lerman Senter PLLC 2000 K Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006 Tel. 202-429-8970 December 2, 2014 Counsel to DG Consents Sub, Inc.


Document Created: 2014-12-02 11:16:16
Document Modified: 2014-12-02 11:16:16
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