Attachment reply to opposition

reply to opposition

REPLY TO OPPOSITION TO PETITION FOR RECONSIDERA submitted by Echostar; Directsat

Reply to Opposition

1997-01-13

This document pretains to SAT-STA-19960627-00088 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA1996062700088_1157995

                                                                                                                            RECEIVEL
                                                                                                                             JAN 1 3 1997
                                            Before the                                                                Federal Communications Commission
                             Federal Communications Commission                                                                Office of Secratary
                                      Washington, D.C.


In the Matter of
                                                                                                                      Received




                                                hn n h N n h N N Ne Ne Ne Ne N N uNn Nz
Directsat Corporation                                                                                                 JAN 2 5 1997

Application for Special                                                                   File No. 138—SAT—STASIB@®!lite Policy    n
Temporary Authority to                                                                                              tmematbnal‘;ysu;ga",c,h
Operate a Direct Broadcast
Satellite System

In the Matter of

EchoStar Satellite Corporation

Application for Special                                                                   File No, 139—SAT—STA—96
Temporary Authority to
Operate a Direct Broadcast
Satellite System




               REPLY TO OPPOSITION OF TEMPO SATELLITE, INC.
             TO CONSOLIDATED PETITIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION


David K. Moskowitz                                                                        Philip L. Malet
Senior Vice President and General Counsel                                                 Pantelis Michalopoulos
EchoStar Satellite Corporation                                                            David A. Stein
Directsat Corporation                                                                     Steptoe & Johnson LLP
90 Inverness Circle East                                                                  1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Englewood, CO 80112                                                                       Washington, D.C. 20036
                                                                                          (202) 429—3000

                                                                                          Attorneys for EchoStar
                                                                                          Satellite Corporation and
                                                                                          Directsat Corporation

January 13, 1997


                                            SUMMARY



                EchoStar Satellite Corporation ("EchoStar") and Directsat Corporation

("Directsat," collectively "EchoStar/Directsat") hereby reply to the opposition of Tempo Satellite,

Inc. ("Tempo") to EchoStar/Directsat‘s Petition to reconsider the Bureau‘s Orders released

November 26, 1996 in the above—captioned proceedings. In these two Orders, the Bureau denied

EchoStar and Directsat their respective requests for Special Temporary Authority ("STA") that

would allow them to use currently idle Direct Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") frequencies assigned to

Tempo at the 119° W.L. orbital location. The STAs would have permitted EchoStar and

Directsat to use temporarily the full capacity of their two DBS satellites, each of which is

equipped with 16 transponders and allowed them to add a substantial number of DBS channels for

the benefit of consumers across the country, as well as to test and augment new and existing

technologies.

                Tempo‘s opposition is not supported by the law or the facts and should be

rejected. First, Tempo contends that only a narrow class of applicants —— those who have applied

"for a construction permit for the facilities covered by the requests for special temporary

authority" —— qualify for STAs, and that EchoStar and Directsat do not meet this definition.

Tempo Opposition at 5—8. Neither Section 309(f) of the Communications Act, nor any case

precedent, supports such an inflexible construction of the Commission‘s authority. The

Commission has never adopted such a narrow construction of its STA powers. Indeed, the

Bureau has granted STAs in many circumstances not covered by Tempo‘s definition, including the


STA previously granted to EchoStar to use five of the same channels at the 119° W.L. orbital

location at issue in this case."

                Second, Tempo incorrectly contends that STAs cannot be issued for orbital slots

and frequencies assigned to other permittees. The Commission has frequently granted STAs for

unused orbital slots and frequencies assigned to other parties."" Further, both EchoStar and

Directsat have on file outstanding applications for additional DBS channels that have not been

disposed of by the Commission. In addition, EchoStar has 11 unassigned channels and both

EchoStar and Directsat have permits covering several other DBS frequency assignments, but do

not yet use these assignments.

                Third, Tempo argues that the STA grants in Newcomb Communications, Inc., 8

FCC Red. 3631 (1993), and Mobile Datacom Corporation, 10 FCC Red. 4552 (1995), are

distinguishable from the instant requests on the grounds that those cases afforded easier customer

adaptability and greater transition flexibility. Tempo, however, completely fails to address

EchoStar and Directsat‘s showing that these distinctions are not valid. In fact, the Newcomb and

Mobile Datacom cases presented much greater transition difficulties and risk of customer




U       See In the Matter of EchoStar Satellite Corporation Application for Special Temporary
Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite, DA 96—270 (rel. March 4, 1996) ("EchoStar
STA Grant") at 1 1; In the Matter of Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. Application for
Interim Authority to Use Capacity on Brazilsat A1 Satellite for U.S. Domestic Service, DA
96—2176 (rel. December 24, 1996) ("Hughes Galaxy —— Brazilsat") at      14 & n.8; In the Matter of
EchoStar Licensee Corporation Application for Special Temporary Authority to Operate a Direct
Broadcast Satellite, DA 96—1918 (rel. November 18, 1996) at ( 5—7; In the Matter of Hughes
Communications Galaxy, Inc. Application for Special Temporary Authority for the DBS—2A
Direct Broadcast Satellite, 10 FCC Red. 9339 (1995) ("Hughes Galaxy").

2/
*       See, e.g., EchoStar STA Grant at ( 1, Hughes Galaxy, 10 FCC Red 9339, at ( 1, and,
most recently, Hughes Galaxy —— Brazilsat at 14 & n.8.

                                               — i1 —


confusion than the present case. In Newcomb and Mobile Datacom customers would lose all

ability to use the equipment in question upon expiration of their STAs. EchoStar/Directsat

subscribers, on the other hand, will only face a reduction in their programming options.

               Fourth, Tempo ignores the stated competitive purposes underlying the initial STA

grant to EchoStar, see EchoStar STA Grant at {{ 1, 5, and, instead, mischaracterizes the purpose

of that order as a "temporary bridge" to the launch of Directsat‘s satellite. Tempo Opposition at

12—14, 16. As EchoStar/Directsat have explained in their Petition, the "temporary bridge"

language merely explained why customer notification was unnecessary. EchoStar STA Grant at

  6.

               Finally, Tempo claims that the scheduled February 27, 1997 launch of its satellite

militates against granting the requested STAs. Tempo Opposition at 14—15. The fact that special

temporary authority may have a short life span is not a valid reason for denying a legitimate STA

request. See Hughes Galaxy at 1, 4 (granting an eight—week STA request). The stringent

customer notification language suggested by EchoStar/Directsat would effectively minimize

customer confusion. Moreover, there is no basis for Tempo‘s concern that EchoStar/Directsat

will not be able to cease their temporary service promptly.




                                               —iii —


                                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY .........222.222.2222 2l 2s l k e k 6k k k66 d e k k k d k k k d k k k k k e e k e e e k e e e e k e e e e e e e e e es 1




      A. Tempo Misconstrues the Commissions
         Authority to Grant Special
           Temporary Authority ("STA") Under
           Section 309(F) of the Communications Act ........................2..222.2.... 2

      B. Tempo Errs When It Asserts that STAs
         Cannot Be Issued For Orbital Slots
           and Frequencies Assigned to Other
           Licensees Or PeMitt@@® \.......................lllll 2l l l l e kkrekkkk k.k k.k kkl}} 5

      C. Tempo Fails to Address EchoStar/
           Directsat‘s Refutation of the Bureau‘s
           Attempt to Distinguish Newcomb
           and Mobile Dat@COM .....................2.2...2....llll0rrkkkkrkkrkkkkkkkk... 6

      D. Tempo Has Mischaracterized the Purpose
           of EchoStar‘s Initial STA Grant \.....................2...2222.22 .l 2l l2 l ... ... 8

      E.   The Scheduled Launch of Tempo‘s Satellite
           Does Not Warrant Denial of EchoStar/
           Directsat‘s STA ReqUeSt$ |..............2.2...22.2...2 22. l2 l l l e l l l k k k k. ... 9

II.   CONCLUSION ..........222222222 22202 l d k6 d k k e k e k k k e e k k d e er k k e e e k e k e e k k ks                  10


                                                                                                                                                            RECEIVED
                                                                                                                                                             sAn 1 3 1997
                                          Before the                                                                                                                                     lo
                                                tions Commisissi
                                              icati
                              Federal Communica              sion                                                                                     Federal Comm
                                                                                                                                                                ultic o ofations Commissign
                                                                                                                                                                   unic
                                        Washington, D.C.




                                                 h/ Ne Ne Ne N) Nes Nes Ne Nes Nes Nes Nee! Nes! Ne! Nee! Nee! Nes! Ned Ne N/
In the Matter of

Directsat Corporation

Application for Special                                                                                                         File No. 138—SAT—STA—96
Temporary Authority to
Operate a Direct Broadcast
Satellite System

In the Matter of

EchoStar Satellite Corporation

Application for Special                                                                                                         File No. 139—SAT—STA—96
Temporary Authority to
Operate a Direct Broadcast
Satellite System



TO:; The International Bureau



                REPLY TO OPPOSITION OF TEMPO SATELLITE, INC.
              TO CONSOLIDATED PETITIONS FOR RECONSIDERATION


               EchoStar Satellite Corporation ("EchoStar") and Directsat Corporation

("Directsat," collectively "EchoStar/Directsat") hereby reply to the opposition of Tempo Satellite,

Inc. ("Tempo") to EchoStar/Directsat‘s Consolidated Petition for Reconsideration of the

International Bureau‘s Orders released November 26, 1996 in the above captioned proceedings."


1/
       In the Matter of EchoStar Satellite Corporation Application for Special Temporary
Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite, Order, DA 96—1977 (rel. Nov. 26, 1996)

                                                                                                                                                            (continued ...)


In these two Orders, the Bureau denied EchoStar and Directsat their respective requests for

Special Temporary Authority ("STA") that would have allowed them to use currently fallow

Direct Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") frequencies at the 119° W.L. orbital location, which are

assigned to Tempo. As discussed below, Tempo‘s arguments have no basis either in law or in fact

and should be rejected.


J.     ARGUMENT

       A.      Tempo Misconstrues the Commission‘s Authority to Grant Special
               Temporary Authority ("STA") under Section 309(f) of the Communications
               Act

               Tempo attempts to construct a statutory argument based on the first clause of

Section 309(f) of the Communications Act. Section 309(f) vests the Commission with the power

to issue STAs "[wlhen an application subject to subsection (b) has been filed." 47 U.S.C.

§ 309(F). Tempo maintains that this language allows the Commission to grant STA "only to

applicants for a Commission authorization," and only to those applicants who have applied "for a

construction permit for the facilities covered by the requests for special temporary authority."

Tempo Opposition at 5—6. Tempo asserts that EchoStar/Directsat are not and cannot be

applicants for additional frequencies at the 119° W.L. orbital location (channels 22—32), because

those frequencies are assigned to Tempo. Id.

               Tempo‘s statutory argument should be rejected for two reasons. First, neither

Section 309(f) nor Commission case law supports Tempo‘s narrow interpretation of the

Commission‘s STA power and of the meaning of an "applicant" under the statute. Second,


4      (... continued)
("EchoStar STA Denial"). In the Matter of Directsat Corporation Application for Special
Temporary Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite, Order, DA 96—1978 (rel. Nov. 26,
1996) ("Directsat STA Denial").


EchoStar and Directsat qualify as applicants, within the meaning of Section 309(f), because they

have pending before the Bureau unsatisfied applications for a substantial number of DBS

channels.

                Section 309(f) must reasonably be read as authorizing the Commission to grant

STAs when the grant of an "application," while authorized by law, would be technically infeasible.

Neither the Commission nor the Courts have interpreted the language cited by Tempo as requiring

the actual filing of an application, and Tempo cites no authority in support of its narrow

interpretation. In fact, the Commission routinely grants STA requests to non—applicants. the

Matter of EchoStar Licensee Corporation Application for Special Temporary Authority to

Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite, DA 96—1918 (rel. November 18, 1996) at (| 5—7 (granting

EchoStar‘s STA request to use Mexican satellite capacity on a short—term basis, when EchoStar

had no application pending); In the Matter of Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. Application

for Interim Authority to Use Capacity on Brazilsat A1 Satellite for U.S. Domestic Service, DA

96—2176 (rel. December 24, 1996) ("Hughes Galaxy —— Brazilsat") at ( 15 (granting STA request

to provide service from foreign satellite where no application was pending and for which there

could have been no application pending at the Commission)."

                Section 309(f) cannot possibly be read as requiring the filing of an application

referencing the specific facilities covered by the STA request, as Tempo suggests. DBS

applicants (processed in a non—auction environment) need not identify the specific orbital locations

proposed for their satellite system. Applicants need only describe their system and identify,



a       The recent Bureau decision in Brazilsat is a case in point. In that case, while Hughes had
an application to use capacity on a Brazilian satellite on file, the Commission could not have
appropriately taken that application into account since it has not yet adopted rules to govern the
processing of applications to provide service to the U.S. from such satellites.

                                                13 _


among other things, the number of proposed channels. Indeed, even if applicants were required

to identify an orbital location, they would only be expressing a preference. The Commission does

not assign specific orbital locations and channels bbefore the lapse of at least one year from grant

of a DBS construction permit, and it does not necessarily satisfy each DBS applicant‘s

preferences.

                Likewise, applicants in the Fixed—Satellite Service may list preferences for certain

orbital locations, but the Commission may, and frequently does, assign an altogether different slot,

based on the fundamental rule that domestic orbital locations are fungible. In short, satellite

system applications are not deemed to be requests for specific orbital locations. This means that,

under Tempo‘s interpretation, even the filing of such an application would never qualify an

applicant to receive Special Temporary Authority to operate from a particular slot and frequency

channels. The Commission must resist such a narrow construction of the Act that would

condemn to disuse the flexible instrument of Special Temporary Authority.

               In any event, EchoStar and Directsat have outstanding applications before the

Commission for the award of additional DBS channels and thus qualify as applicants under

Section 309(f). Both EchoStar and Directsat originally sought authority to operate 16 eastern

and 16 western channels. To date, the Commission has only granted EchoStar and Directsat 11

eastern channels each.* The Commission has never denied or dismissed the unsatisfied remainder

of these applications.*

x      Continental Satellite Corporation, 4 FCC Red. 6292, 6300 (1989).

4       Although the Commission has recently decided not to honor EchoStar‘s and Directsat‘s
rights to receive additional channels formerly assigned to Advanced Communications
Corporation, Revision of Rules and Policies for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, 11 FCC

                                                                                       (continued ...)


        B.      Tempo Errs When It Asserts that STAs Cannot Be Issued For Orbital Slots
                and Frequencies Assigned to Other Licensees or Permittees

                Tempo maintains that there is no precedent for an STA grantee‘s use of "an orbital

slot and frequencies that were specifically assigned to another licensee or permittee." Tempo

Opposition at 8. This assertion is flatly wrong. In recent decisions, the Commission has

authorized STA grantees to use the orbital slots and/or frequencies assigned to another licensee or

permittee. In the Matter of EchoStar Satellite Corporation Application for Special Temporary

Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite, DA 96—270 (rel. March 4, 1996) ("EchoStar

STA Grant") at ( 1; In the Matter of Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. Application for

Special Temporary Authority for the DBS—2A Direct Broadcast Satellite, 10 FCC Red. 9339

(1995) ("Hughes Galaxy"); Hughes Galaxy —— Brazilsat at      14 & n.8." Indeed, Tempo fails to



4       (... continued)
Red. 9712 (1995), that decision is presently on appeal. See DIRECTV, Inc., et al., Docket Nos.
96—1001, 96—1005, 96—1010, and 96—1011 (D.C. Cir.). More importantly, that decision does not
amount to dismissal or denial of the applications of EchoStar and Directsat to the extent they seek
more than 11 channels each. In addition, EchoStar has 11 unassigned channels and both EchoStar
and Directsat have permits covering several other DBS frequency assignments, but do not yet use
these assignments.

¥      See also Newcomb Communications, Inc., 8 FCC Red. 3631 (1993) (granting Newcomb‘s
application for authority to construct and operate 10,000 transmit—only mobile earth stations in
the 1610—1626.5 MHz frequency band because there was no significant interference potential
between Newcomb‘s operations and the operations of others now using the band, but requiring
Newcomb to terminate operations immediately upon the launch of a satellite by a regularly
licensed Big LEO MSS provider in the same band); American Mobile Satellite Corp., 7 FCC Red.
942 (1992) (authority to provide interim land mobile satellite service in the lower L—band
frequencies granted with condition that interim service providers transition to dedicated upper
L—band system when it is brought into service); ARC Professional Services Group, 5 FCC Red.
5398 (Com Car. Bur. 1990) (applicant granted temporary authority to operate tracking and data
relay satellite system C—band transponders on a commercial basis until that orbital location was
ready to be occupied by a regularly assigned licensee); Satellite Business Systems, Mimeo No.
5207 (Com. Car. Bur. 1984) (licensee granted temporary authority to operate its SBS—4 satellite
at 101° W.L. to enable a customer to provide interim satellite service until 101° W. L. was ready
to be occupied by a regularly assigned fixed—satellite licensee).

                                               — 5_


address the Bureau‘s most recent decision in Hughes Galaxy —— Brazilsat. Nor does Tempo

explain how the temporary assignment of its orbital location and frequencies to EchoStar in

EchoStar STA Grant can be squared with its assertion that STAs cannot be granted to serve

another permittee or licensee‘s orbital slots and/or frequencies.

                Tempo attempts to distinguish the Hughes Galaxy decision by arguing that the

purpose of the STA granted in that case was to test the satellite. Tempo Opposition at 9. The

distinction suggested by Tempo is not persuasive. The Commission‘s STA authority under

Section 309(f) does not reference testing over other legitimate purposes and the Commission has

never construed its authority in such a way. In any event, the two STA denial orders in this case

make clear that one of the reasons that EchoStar and Directsat requested new or extended STA

authority was "to test innovative technologies such as High Definition Television, or to augment

the capabilities of existing technologies, e.g., by linking to the Internet." EchoStar STA Denial at

[ 3; Directsat STA Denial at 3.


         C.    Tempo Fails to Address EchoStar/Directsat‘s Refutation of the Bureau‘s
               Attempt to Distinguish Newcomb and Mobile Datacom

               Tempo urges that the Bureau adhere to distinctions that it made between this case

and the STA grants in Newcomb and Mobile Datacom." Tempo contends that it would be more

difficult for "ordinary consumers to adapt to a reduction in service than it would be for a small

number of commercial or governmental organizations.‘" Tempo Opposition at 10 (quoting

EchoStar STA Denial at f] 8; Directsat STA Denial at [ 8). EchoStar/Directsat demonstrated in

their petitions for reconsideration that the "adaptation" would seem to be much more difficult in



is       Newcomb, 8 FCC Red. 3631 (1993); Mobile Datacom Corporation, 10 FCC Red. 4552
(1995)


the case of Newcomb and Mobile Datacom where customers would find themselves with

terminals that they would no longer be able to use at all." The subscribers of EchoStar and

Directsat, on the other hand, would experience only a reduction in the number of programming

options available to them, while continuing to receive up to 130 channels of programming.

EchoStar/Directsat Consolidated Petition for Reconsideration at 6 ("EchoStar/Directsat

Petitions"). Tempo fails to address this argument, and relies instead on a blanket assertion that

EchoStar/Directsat "advance no substantive support for their contrary conclusion." Tempo

Opposition at 10. Furthermore, Tempo does not explain why customer adaptation should be so

difficult in view of the stringent customer notification language proposed by EchoStar/Directsat in

their consolidated petitions. See EchoStar/Directsat Petition at 12.

                Tempo also agrees with the Bureau‘s findings that Mobile Datacom and Newcomb

had "‘greater transition flexibility‘" than EchoStar/Directat and that the advanced age of the

satellites in Mobile Datacom and Newcomb was a significant factor. Tempo Opposition at 10—11.

EchoStar/Directsat demonstrated in their petition that these findings were in error. See

EchoStar/Directsat Petition at 6—7. Again Tempo, in its opposition, does not address

EchoStar/Directsat‘s arguments.




4      Indeed, both Newcomb and Mobile Datacom received authority to construct and operate
10,000 terminals each. Further, Newcomb recently received additional temporary authority to
add a link to its terminals, allowing a two—way service. Newcomb Communications, Inc., 11 FCC
Red. 3084 (1996). This additional authority would seem to make the eventual transition process
even more complex for Newcomb‘s customers compared to the temporary authority requested by
EchoStar, which involves use of existing licensed receive—only terminals.

                                                _7 .


        D.      Tempo Has Mischaracterized the Purpose of EchoStar‘s Initial STA Grant

                Tempo erroneously contends that the purpose of the initial EchoStar STA was to

serve as a "temporary bridge" until Directsat‘s satellite was launched and became operational and

thus the justification for any STA expired when that event occurred. Tempo Opposition at 12—14,

16. As explained in the EchoStar/Directsat Petitions the purpose of the first STA was to allow

EchoStar to compete more effectively. EchoStar/Directsat Petitions at 9. The Bureau found that

"[g]rant of this STA request .. . will . . . enable EchoStar to offer more competition and more

programming more quickly in the DBS service." EchoStar STA Grant at [ 1. In the key

paragraph setting forth its rationale, the Bureau concluded that:

               Grant of EchoStar‘s request may enable it to offer a more
               comprehensive and competitive initial DBS service to the public by
               making use of all of its available transponder capacity at 119° W.L.
               The Commission has recently reaffirmed its commitment to
               fostering competition in the multichannel video programming
               distribution market, and grant of this STA in the special
               circumstances of this case will further that objective.

Id. at "| 5 (footnote omitted). Tempo provides no explanation for why these considerations are

not equally valid for the current STA requests.

               Tempo also misconstrues the context in which the phrase "temporary bridge" was

used by the Bureau. The Bureau used the "temporary bridge" language to indicate that a future

service reduction was not contemplated and to explain why customer notification was therefore

not required. EchoStar STA Grant at [ 6; EchoStar/Directsat Petition at 8—9. That language

cannot reasonably be read to preclude future STAs once the Directsat satellite was launched.

               Indeed, the "temporary bridge" justification relied upon by Tempo and the Bureau

is inconsistent with the scope of the initial STA. EchoStar stated its intention "to cease


operations on these channels immediately upon either expiration of its STA or launch of Tempo‘s

satellite to 119° W.L.," and the Bureau made this a condition of the grant. EchoStar STA Grant,

1 5, 9. If that STA was intended as a "temporary bridge," the temporary authority should have

been slated to expire upon the sooner of: (a) the end of the 180—day STA period, or (b) launch of

Directsat‘s satellite. Instead, the Bureau ordered that the STA would expire either at the end of

the 180—day STA period or upon launch of Tempo‘s satellite to 119° W.L. —— a result that is not

consistent with a "temporary bridge" justification for the STA. EchoStar STA Grant at 4 9.

               In EchoStar STA Grant, Tempo was satisfied with the condition that EchoStar

cease STA operations upon the launch of Tempo‘s satellite to 119° W.L. EchoStar STA Grant at

[ 5. EchoStar and Directsat propose to comply with the very same condition in the instant STA

requests.


       E.      The Scheduled Launch of Tempo‘s Satellite Does Not Warrant Denial of
               EchoStar/Directsat‘s STA Requests

               Tempo lastly claims that EchoStar/Directsat‘s STA requests should be denied

because Tempo intends to launch a satellite to the orbital location at 119° W.L. on February 27,

1997. Tempo Opposition at 14—15. Tempo‘s proposed launch date is not a legitimate basis for

denying EchoStar and Directsat‘s STA requests. Recent FCC precedent has resulted in the

granting of short—term STA requests. See Hughes Galaxy at (" 1, 4 (granting an eight—week STA

request). In addition, there is no basis for Tempo to assert that customer confusion would result,

given that no customer of EchoStar or Directsat will be deprived of DBS service upon expiration

of the requested STAs and the unequivocal customer notification that EchoStar and Directsat

intend to provide their customers. See EchoStar/Directsat Petitions at 12.


               Finally, Tempo contends that EchoStar/Directsat‘s commitment to ceasing service

immediately upon launch of Tempo‘s satellite is hollow, because EchoStar needed an additional 30

days to terminate service over Tempo‘s channels upon the Bureau‘s denial of an STA extension.

Tempo Opposition at 15. Tempo‘s concern is unwarranted: EchoStar needed this limited

additional time only to ensure the seamless transition of programming from the five channels 23,

25, 27, 29 and 31 to Directsat‘s satellite. That transition was possible because EchoStar, as a

precautionary measure, had made provision for available capacity on the newly launched

DIRECTSAT I to cover that contingency. Upon expiration of the STAs requested here,

transition will not necessarily be an issue. EchoStar will only need to discontinue programming

over the STA channels. In any event, EchoStar will take measures to be ready for an immediate

termination of operations.



IL.    CONCLUSION

               Accordingly, notwithstanding Tempo‘s opposition, the Bureau should reconsider

and grant the STA requests of EchoStar and Directsat, subject to any condition the Bureau

considers appropriate, including the termination of operations upon Tempo‘s launch of a satellite

to 119° W.L. and a clear customer notification requirement.




                                               — 10 —


                                                    Respectfully submitted,



                                                      iL    e AZ WZJ
David K. Moskowitz                                  Philip L. Malet "
Senior Vice President and General Counsel           Pantelis Michalopoulos
EchoStar Satellite Corporation                      David A. Stein
Directsat Corporation                               Steptoe & Johnson LLP
90 Inverness Circle East                            1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW.
Englewood, CO 80112                                 Washington, D.C. 20036
                                                    (202) 429—3000

                                                    Attorneys for EchoStar
                                                    Satellite Corporation and
                                                    Directsat Corporation




January 13, 1997




                                            —11 —


                                CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

               I hereby certify that on this 13th day of January 1997, I caused copies of the

foregoing pleading to be served by hand delivery to the following:

Fern Jarmulnek                                   Thomas S. Tycz
International Bureau                             International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                Federal Communications Commission
2000 M Street, N.W.                              2000 M Street, N.W., Room 811
Washington, DC 20554                             Washington, D.C. 20554


Suzanne Hutchings                                 Richard E. Wiley
International Bureau                             Todd M. Stansbury
Federal Communications Commission                Wiley, Rein & Fielding
2000 M Street, NW., Room 505A                    1776 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554                           Washington, D.C. 20006


John Stern
International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
2000 M Street, N.W., Room 819A
Washington, D.C. 20554


Christopher Murphy
International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
2000 M Street, N.W., Room 579
Washington, D.C. 20554


Donald Gips, Chief
International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
2000 M Street, N.W., Room 800
Washington, D.C. 20554



                                                        @&»@fi& CQ ;%m
                                                              David A. Stein



Document Created: 2016-11-10 17:00:14
Document Modified: 2016-11-10 17:00:14

© 2025 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC