Attachment EchoStar-Grant Dec 9

EchoStar-Grant Dec 9

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

grant

2009-12-09

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20091006-00107 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2009100600107_786891

$2439          SAT—STA—20091006—00107      182009005124                                Tile # SRT— STh— 2003 10 06— O0LO7]
EchoStar Corporation
                                                                                       Call Sign $2439__       Grant Date |2/05/Oj
                                                                                       (or other identifiet)
                                                              |                                                Torm Dates Rerted ofF   Approved by OMB

                                                                     Sn tc      ra4€   From 10 /25/05               To:    \& daas           5960—11678
                                                                   CRANTED
    Date & Time Filed: Oct 62009 4:43:18:146PM                  International Bureau Approved:                              ““‘W
    File Number: SAT—STA—20091006—00107                       *éu%;&"                —                     t             . Duall
    Callsign:                                                         eondifions                           Chi      olicy Branch
                                                  FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                                        APPLICATION FOR SPACE STATION SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

                                                                  FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY


         APPLICANT INFORMATION
    Enter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu:
     Request to Renew Special Temporary Authority to Operate EchoStar 8 at 77 W.L. for 180 Days
        1. Applicant

                   Name:         EchoStar Corporation                  Phone Number:                             303—723—1000
                   DBA Name:                                           Fax Number:

                   Street:       100 Inverness Terrace East            E—Mail:



                   City:         Englewood                             State:                                     Cco
                   Country:       USA                                  Zipcode:                                  80112
                   Attention:    Linda Kinney —(202)293—0981


                                            ATTACHMENT

                           IBFS File Nos. SAT—STA—20091006—00107
                                       Call Sign: $2439
                               Grant Date: December 9, 2009

EchoStar Corporation‘s (EchoStar) request for special temporary authority, File No. SAT—STA—
20091006—00107 IS GRANTED. Accordingly, EchoStar is authorized to continue to conduct
Tracking, Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) necessary to maintain the EchoStar 8 satellite at
the 77° W.L. orbital location, and is authorized to operate the EchoStar 8 satellite at that location
for 180 days commencing October 25, 2009, subject to the following conditions:

       1. At the 77° W.L. orbital location, Echostar shall operate the EchoStar 8 satellite in
accordance with the operator arrangement referenced in the Letter dated October 23, 2008 from
William M. Wiltshire, Counsel for DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC to the Secretary of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).

       2. All operations of the EchoStar 8 satellite at the 77° W.L. orbital location shall be on a
non—harmful interference basis. EchoStar shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall not
claim protection from interference caused to it, by any other lawfully operating satellite or radio
communication service.

        3. In the event of any harmful interference as a result of EchoStar‘s operation of the
EchoStar 8 satellite at the 77° W.L. orbital location, EchoStar shall cease operations immediately
upon notification of such interference and shall inform the FCC, in writing, immediately of such
an event.

       4. EchoStar shall inform its customers that operations at the 77° W.L. orbital location
from the EchoStar 8 satellite are on a non—harmful interference basis, and that EchoStar must
cease operations upon notification of such interference.



                                                  File #      SRT—SYTA— 200931006— 00107


                                                  Call Sign    324'3‘3 Frant Date ’2/03/05
                                                  {or other identifier)
                                                                          Torm Dates Pertod of
                                                  From     '0/2-5/05 To: da{'fis
                                                                          189



                           4esut3)ag:i—+o    mm                                  J., Dual]
                                   conmditions                                 Pahc\u] Branch


2. Contact


             Name:        Pantelis Michalopoulos               Phone Number:                         202—429—6494
             Company:     Steptoe & Johnson LLP                Fax Number:
             Street:       1330 Connecticut Ave NW             E—Mail:                               pmichalopoulos@steptoe.com



             City:        Washington                           State:                                DC
             Country:      USA                                 Zipcode:                              20036      —
             Attention:                                        Relationship:                         Legal Counsel


  (If your application is related to an application filed with the Commission, enter either the file number or the IB Submission ID of the related
application. Please enter only one.)
  3. Reference File Number     or Submission ID

 4a. Is a fee submitted with this application?
) IfYes, complete and attach FCC Form 159.         If No, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R.Section 1.1114).
C Governmental Entity       £} Noncommercial educational licensee
) Other(please explain):

4b. Fee Classification

5. Type Request

 «4 Change Station Location                        £‘4 Extend Expiration Date                       «& Other


6. Temporary Orbit Location                                               7. Requested Extended Expiration Date
        77 W.L.                                                                2010—04—20 00:00:00.0


8. Description   (If the complete description does not appear in this box, please go to the end of the form to view it in its entirety.)
     EchoStar Corporation seeks to renew its special temporary authority to operate the
     EchoStar 8 satellite under U.S.                  authority at 77 W.L.              for 180 days pending transfer of the
     satellite to Mexican authority.                     See attached narrative.




9. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is subject @ Yes               «3 No
to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti—Drug Act of 1988,
21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. See 47 CFR
1.2002(b) for the meaning of "party to the application" for these purposes.


10. Name of Person Signing                                                  11. Title of Person Signing
Linda Kinney                                                                Vice President, Law and Regulation
12. Please supply any need attachments.
 Attachment 1: Narrative                           Attachment 2:                                      Attachment 3:



          WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND / OR IMPRISONMENT
                 (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION AUTHORIZATION
                  (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 503).


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1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. SECTION 3507.


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



                                                    )
                                                    )
In the Matter of:                                   )
                                                    )
ECHOSTAR CORPORATION                               )       File No. SAT—STA—20080616—00121
                                                   ) File No. SAT—STA—20090422—00045
Application for Renewal of Special                 ) File No. SAT—STA—2009
Temporary Authority To Operate EchoStar 8



                                                 N_ NZNZ
at 77° W.L. for 180 days




      APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

       EchoStar Corporation ("EchoStar") requests renewal of its special temporary authority

("STA")‘ to operate the EchoStar 8 satellite as a U.S.—licensed satellite serving the U.S. from 77°

W.L. for an additional 180 days pending grant of authority to transfer the satellite to Mexican

authority." The current STA is set to expire on October 25, 2009.°

       Grant of this renewal request will serve the public interest and not cause harmful

interference to any authorized user of the spectrum. Allowing EchoStar 8 to continue service at




       ‘ See File No. SAT—STA—20090422—00045 (granted Oct. 1, 2009). The information
provided in the original application for STA is incorporated in this application by reference. File
No. SAT—STA—20080616—00121 (granted Oct. 31, 2008) ("STA Application").

       * On February 17, 2009, EchoStar filed an application to transfer the EchoStar 8 satellite
to QuetzSat, S. de R.L. de C.V., which will operate the satellite at the 77° W.L. orbital location
under Mexican authority. The transfer application did not request authority to assign or transfer
control over any authorization granted by the Commission. See File No. SAT—T/C—20090217—
00026 (filed Feb. 17, 2009). EchoStar has requested authority to provide service from the
satellite once it is transferred to Mexican authority. File No. SES—MFS—20080724—00977 (filed
July 24, 2008).

       * File No. SAT—STA—20090422—00045 (granted Oct. 1, 2009).


the 77° W.L. orbital location will support EchoStar‘s continued effort to make a greater variety

and quality of programming services available to U.S. consumers, including high definition

television services and "local—into—local" broadcast stations from that orbital location. In

addition, the redeployment of EchoStar 8 from its location at 110° W.L. has enlarged and will

continue to enlarge the scope of U.S. coverage from the 77° W.L. orbital location, enabling

nearly full CONUS coverage.

       As described in EchoStar‘s STA Application, EchoStatr‘s partner, QuetzSat S. de R.L. de

C.V. ("QuetzSat"), has confirmed that the Mexican Administration does not object to the interim

operation of EchoStar 8 as a U.S. satellite at 77° W.L. to provide service to the United States,

provided that the satellite operates in conformance with the technical characteristics in

QuetzSat‘s BSS Concession.*


1.     BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

       As explained in the STA4 Application, on April 18, 2006, the Commussion granted

EchoStar‘s sister company, EchoStar Satellite LLC, authority to provide Direct Broadcast

Satellite ("DBS") service to the southern United States from EchoStar 4 as a Mexican—licensed

satellite located at 77° W.L.° The operation of EchoStar 4 at 77° W.L. is governed by an

agreement between EchoStar and SES Global Latin America, S.A. (“SES”),6 and a related




       * See Secretariat of Communications and Transportation Vice—Ministry of
Communications, Concesion Para Ocupar La Posicion Orbital Geoestacionaria 77° Oeste
Asignada al Pais y Explotar Sus Respectivas Bandas de Frecuencias 12.2 — 12.7 GHz y 17.3—17.8
GHz, Asi como los Derechos de Emision y Recepcion de Sefiales, granted February 2, 2005
("BSS Concession"), filed in STA Application, Attachment 2.

      ° EchoStar Satellite LLC, Order and Authorization, DA 06—868, 21 FCC Red 4077 (2006)
("77°W.L. Order").

       ° See Satellite Relocation and Use Agreement for the 77° W.L. Orbital Location ("77°

                                                2


agreement between SES and QuetzSat. Consistent with these agreements, the EchoStar 4

satellite is currently operating as a Mexican—licensed satellite under the direct control of

QuetzSat pursuant to the February 2, 2005 BSS Concession, which allows QuetzSat to use the

77° W.L. orbital location.‘ In addition, EchoStar has received authority to serve the United

States from EchoStar 4 as a foreign—licensed satellite." The EchoStar 4 satellite, however, can

only provide service to the southern United States from 77° w.L.

       The parties have amended the 77° W.L. Agreement to allow EchoStar to operate

EchoStar 8 at 77° W.L. temporarily as a U.S.—licensed satellite, and the satellite has been

providing service at that orbital location since the second half of 2008. The satellite is also being

used to provide a DBS service to Mexico.‘" Once EchoStar receives authority to transfer the




W.L. Agreement"), as amended, filed in STA Application, Attachment 3.

       " See BSS Concession, filed in STA Application, Attachment 2.

        8 See 77°W.L. Order at § 1. As EchoStar has previously advised the Commission, on
January 1, 2008, EchoStar Communications Corporation ("ECC") assigned several satellite
space station and earth station assets previously owned by its subsidiaries to EchoStar (the "Spin—
Off). See Public Notice, DA 07—4655 (rel. Nov. 16, 2007) (consenting to the transfer of several
authorizations as part of the Spin—Off). EchoStar Satellite Operating LLC‘s blanket earth station
license and its authority to operate U.S. feeder link and TT&C earth stations with the EchoStar 4
satellite were assigned to EchoStar as part of the Spin—Off.

        ° See EchoStar Satellite LLC, Supplement to Petition for Reconsideration, filed in File
No. SAT—STA—20050321—00068, at 5 (June 14, 2005); see also Letter from Pantelis
Michalopoulos, Counsel for EchoStar Satellite LLC, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, filed
in File No. SAT—STA—20050321—00068, Appendix A, dated May 10, 2005.

       9 See Amendment to the Commission‘s Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed
Satellites and Separate International Satellite Systems and DBSC Petition for Declaratory
Rulemaking Regarding the Use of Transponders to Provide International DBS Service, Report
and Order, 11 FCC Red 2429, 70 (1996); see also Protocol Concerning the Transmission and
Reception of Signals from Satellites for the Provision of Direct—to—Home Satellite Services in the
United States of America and the United Mexican States, U.S.—Mx., Nov. 8, 1996, available at
http://www.fee.gov/ib/sand/agree/files/satellite/mex—dth.pdf.

                                                 —3.


satellite to Mexican authority, EchoStar expects that EchoStar 8 will remain in operation at 77°

W.L. until the deployment at that location of the QuetzSat—1 satellite, planned for a 2011 launch.


IL.    GRANT OF THIS APPLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

       The same conditions that led the Bureau to grant the STA to operate EchoStar 8 at 77°

W.L. remain applicable in this case. EchoStar is able to take advantage of the greater

capabilities that EchoStar 8 brings to bear compared to EchoStar 4 to provide increased

programming to U.S. consumers from 77° W.L. while QuetzSat constructs the QuetzSat—1

satellite. Among other things, the satellite is used to provide HD local—into—local broadcast

stations and other HD programming into the United States. The satellite also helps expand the

coverage available from the 77° W.L. orbital location to cover nearly all of the continental

United States.

       EchoStar 4 suffers from two infirmities: limited capacity and limited scope of coverage

over the United States. The Commuission found that even this limited service from the Mexican

orbital slot at 77° W.L. "could serve the public interest by providing service to areas in the

Southern United States, including additional Spanish language programming to areas with

significant Spanish—speaking populations.""‘ The redeployment of EchoStar 8 at 77° W.L. has

achieved this and more, as it ameliorates both of EchoStar 4s defects. It greatly enhances the

programming available»from 77° W.L. to U.S. customers, and it also enhances the scope of U.S.

coverage beyond the southern states.

       Such improvements in scope of coverage and available capacity, allows EchoStar‘s

affiliated DBS provider, DISH, to compete more effectively with terrestrial MVPD distributors —




         See 77° W.L. Order at " 8.


both the established cable operators and telephone companies — whose infrastructure endows

them with significantly more bandwidth and programming capacity than is available to DISH.

       Moreover, as noted in the STA Application, the public interest benefits that accrue from

operating EchoStar 8 at 77° W.L. can be achieved without causing harmful interference to other

satellites." There is no DBS orbital location in the vicinity of 77° W.L. that is assigned to the

United States (the closest U.S. location is 61.5° W.L.), and no harmful interference from the

operation of an additional satellite at 77° W.L. into Canada‘s DBS allotments at 72.5° W.L. and

82° W.L. In that respect, EchoStar notes that Canada has modified the coverage ofits 72.5° W.L.

orbital location to include the United States, and DIRECTV is authorized to serve the United

States from its DIRECTV 1R satellite operating at that slot.""

       Upon renewal of this STA, EchoStar will continue to operate the EchoStar 8 so that it is

within the specifications of the 1996 Mexican ITU modification over all points in Canada and

the United States, as well as with the existing coordination agreements between the

Administrations of Canada and Mexico and/or any future coordination agreements.

       Finally, EchoStar will continue to operate the EchoStar 8 satellite at 77° W.L. in

accordance with conditions set out the October 1, 2009 STA grant."*




       * See File No. SAT—STA—20080616—00121, Narrative.

        } EchoStar is also authorized to serve the United States from 72.7° W.L. over the
EchoStar 6 satellite operating under Canadian authority. SES—LFS—20080512—00595 (granted
July 28, 2008). EchoStar has also received special temporary authority to provide service from
the Nimiq 5 satellite that was launched on September 18, 2009, while its request for permanent
authority is pending. File No. SES—STA—20090811—00984 (granted Aug. 17, 2009).

       4 See Stamp Grant, File No. SAT—STA—20090422—00045 (granted Oct. 1, 2009).


III.   WAIVER PURSUANT TO SECTION 304 OF THE ACT

       In accordance with Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47

U.S.C. § 304, EchoStar hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or of the

electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the

previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise.


IV.    CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, EchoStar respectfully requests the renewal of its application

for special temporary authority to operate EchoStar 8 as a U.S.—licensed satellite at 77° W.L. for

180 days pending grant of authority to transfer the satellite to Mexican authority.




                                              Respectfully submitted,




                                                        Is/
Pantelis Michalopoulos                         Linda Kinney
Petra A. Vorwig                  f             Vice President, Law and Regulation
Steptoe & Johnson LLP                          Brad Gillen
1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.                  Director and Senior Counsel
Washington, D.C. 20036                         EchoStar Corporation
(202) 429—3000                                 1233 20th Street, N.W.
Counselfor EchoStar Corporation                Suite 302
                                               Washington, DC 20036—2396
                                               (202) 293—0981


October 6, 2009



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