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COMMENT submitted by Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC

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2005-05-12

This document pretains to SAT-RPL-20050322-00070 for Replacement Application on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATRPL2005032200070_435274

                                                                          ORIGINAL
                                             Before the                       RECEIVED
                                Federal Communications Commission
                                       Washington, D.C. 20554                   MAY 3 1 2005
In the Matter of                                     )                    FedenlConmuncatons Conniason
                                                     )                           Ofit Secuy
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC                             )
                                                     )
Application to Lainch and Operate DIRECTV 98         ) File No. SAT—RPL—20050322—00070
                                                     )
Application to Launch and Operate DIRECTV $(K) )         File No. SAT—MOD—20050513—00100
                                               )
Application to Launch and Operate DIRECTV §(D) )         File No. SAT—MOD—20050513—00101

        CoMMENTS OF MOBILE SATELLITE VENTURES SUBSIDIARY LLC
       Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC ("MSV") hercby files these Comments on the
above—captioned applications of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC ("DIRECTV") to operate two new
satelltes atthe 101°W orbital location.‘ MSV urges the International Bureau (*Bureau") to
ensure that grant of DIRECTV‘s applications in no way prefudices MSV‘s right to operate its
own licensed satelites at the nominal 101°W orbital location.
                                         Background
       MSV is the entity authorized by the Commission in 1989 to construct,launch, and
operate a United States Mobile Satellite Service ("MSS") system in the L—band. MSV‘s current
satellite was launched in 1995 and operates at 100.95°W." On May23, 2005, the Bureau


‘ See Application of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, File No. SAT—RPL—20050322—00070 (filed March 22,
2005) ("DTV9$ Application"); Application of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, File Nos. SAT—MOD—
20050513—00100, SAT—MOD—20050513—00101 (filed March 13, 2005) (collectively "D7V8
Application®).
* Order and Authorization, 4 FCC Red 6041 (1989); remanded by eronautical Radio, Inc. v.
FCC, 928 F.2d 428 (D.C. Cit,1991); Final Decision on Remand, 7 FCC Red 266 (1992); affd.
Aeronautical Radio, Inc. v. PCC, 983 F.2d 275 (D.C. Cir.1993); see also AMSC Subsidiary
Corporation, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 8 ECC Red 4040 (1993).
* See File No. SAT—MOD—20040623—00120 (granted August 23, 2004).


authorized MSV to launch and operate a next—generation satellite at the nominal 101°W orbital
location*
        On March 22, 2005, DIRECTV applied to operate a new DBS satellte ("DTVIS") at the
nominal 101°W orbitallocation. See DTY9$ Application. DIRECTV plans to launch the
satellte in the second quarter of2006. 14. at A—2. DIRECTV does not specify a precise orbital
location for the satellite. Rather, DIRECTV explains that he satellite will be one of four
DIRECTV satellites at the nominal 101°W orbital location and that DIRECTV will work with
the other two operators at 101°W (MSV and SES Americom)to determine the optimum
arrangement ofthe satellites. 1d.at A—15.
       On May13, 2005, DIRECTV filed an application to modify the license for its hybrid
DBS/Ka—band satelite (°DTV8") to locate the satellite at 100.75°W rather than the authorized
100.85°W location. See DTY8 Application. DIRECTV launched this satellite on May 21, 2005.
       Assuming that the MSV and DIRECTV satellites are successfully launched and begin
operations at the nominal 101°W orbital location, a total ofseven satelltes licensed to three
operators will be located atthis nominal location: AMSC—I1 and MSV—1 licensed to MSV; DTV—
18, —48, —8,and —98licensed to DIRECTV; and AMC—4 licensed to SES Americom Inc."
                                            Discussion
       MSV and DIRECTV have held productive initaldiscussions regarding arrangement of
their respective satellites at the nominal 101°W orbitallocation. At this point, however, there is



* See Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, Order andAuthorization, DA 05—1492 (Chicf,
Intemational Bureau, May 23, 2005).
* DIRECTV refers to only six satellites that will operate at the nominal 101°W orbitallocation.
DIRECTV 98 Application at A—15. In fact, in the near future upon launch of MSV‘s replacement
satellite, seven satellites will operate at the nominal 101W orbital location.


no comprehensive agreement among the three operators as to how they will collocate their seven
satelltes to avoid in—orbit collisions. The fact that DIRECTV may operate ts new satellites at

101°W prior to MSV‘s new satellte should not prejudice MSV‘s right or limit MSV‘s flexibility
to operate at this orbital location. Unlike the Commission‘s first—in—time,frst—in—right policy
with respect to licensing of frequencies at a given orbital location, the Commission has never
established a first—intime, frst—in—right or any other assigament policy regarding the physical
location of satellites ata given orbital location. Rather, the Commission expects partieslicensed

at a particular orbital location to coordinate in good faith with other operators to avoid in—orbit

collisions." Accordingly, the Bureau should condition grant of the applications on DIRECTV‘s

successful coordination ofts satelltes at 101°W with those of MSV at the same nominal
location.

                                            Conclusion
        MSV requests that the Bureau act consistently with the views expressed herein.
                                      Respectfully submitted,


 Bruce D. Jacob                                       Yédnifer AJ Manner
 David S. Koncz                                         ie President, Regulatory
 Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP                  Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC
 2300 N Street, NW                                    10802 Parkridge Boulevard
 Washington, DC 20037—1128                            Reston, Virginia 20191
 (202) ses—s000                                       (703) 390—2700

Dated: May 31, 2005




* Mitigation of Orbital Debris, Second Report and Order, TB Docket No. 02—54, FCC 04—130
(June 21, 2004), at 9 51.


                                    CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

         1, Sylvia A. Davis, a secretary with the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
LLP, hereby certify that on this 31st day ofMay 2005, served a true copy ofthe foregoing by
first class United States mail, postage prepaid, upon the following:

Thomas Tyer*                                     Cassandra Thomas®
International Buresu                             International Bureau
Federal Communieations Commission                Federal Communications Commission
445 12" Streat, S.W.                             445 12° Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                             Washington, DC 20554
rem Jarmulnek®                                   Robert Nelson®
International Bureau                             International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                Federal Communications Commission
445 12® Street, S.W                              445 12® Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                             Washington, DC 20554
David Patillo                                    William M. Wilshire
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC                         Harris, Wilisire & Granis LLP
2230 E. Imperial Huy                             1200 Eighteenth Street, NW.
El Segundo, CA 90245                             12" Floor
                                                 Washington, D.C. 20036




*By hand delivery




Doomens usiesa



Document Created: 2005-06-07 14:02:03
Document Modified: 2005-06-07 14:02:03

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