Attachment EchoStar-Grant April

EchoStar-Grant April

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

grant

2010-04-06

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20100226-00037 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2010022600037_809493

                                                                                     File # SBT— sTh— 2010022%—C003]
            SAT—STA—20100226—00037      1B2010000729        |
                                                            |

                                                            !
EchoStar Corporation
                                                                                     Call Sign                Grant Date_Ot/6 G/10
                                                            l                        (or other identifier)                               Approved by OMB
                                                                   a       _                                  Term Dates                       3060—0678
                                                            ’                        From O2/2%/!0                     T, oSs/24/i16
                                                            |    GRA
                                                                   E“TEDJ'L                m                             e
     Date & Time Filed: Feb 26 2010 2:55:56:860PM           l International Bureau   Approved:                / X
     File Number: SAT—STA—20100226—00037                    ;‘W——_‘|                                         StepheY    3. Duall
     Callsign:                                                           condtions                            Chie} Setellite Volicy B\cmd\
                                                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:
      Application to Renew STA to Operate on Channels 23 and 24 at 61.5 W.L.
      1. Applicant

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

                 DBA Name:                                             Fax Number:

                 Street:       100 Inverness Terrace East              E—Mail:



                 City:         Englewood                               State:                                   CO

                 Country:       USA                                    Zipcode:                                 80112        —
                 Attention:    Linda Kinney —(202)293—0981


                                      Attachment
                          File No. SAT—STA—20100226—00037
                                      April 6, 2010


       EchoStar Corporation‘s request, File No. SAT—STA—20100226—00037, IS
GRANTED, and EchoStar Corporation (EchoStar) IS AUTHORIZED to operate Direct
Broadcast Satellite service from its EchoStar 12 satellite over Channels 23 and 24 at the
61.5° W.L. orbital location for a period of 180 days, from March 28, 2010 to September
24, 2010, subject to the following conditions:

        1.     EchoStar‘s use of channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L. orbital location
shall cause no harmful interference to any other lawfully operating radio station and
EchoStar shall cease operation on those channels immediately upon notification of such
interference.

        2.     EchoStar shall not claim protection from interference from any other
lawfully operated radio station with respect to its operations on channels 23 and 24 and
that EchoStar‘s operation on channels 23 and 24 is at its own risk.

       3.      Upon launch and operation of a replacement satellite for EchoStar 3 at the
61.5° W.L. orbital location, the following conditions will apply:

               a) EchoStar:

       1)     must inform its customers, in writing, that services using the two
       unassigned channels at the 61.5° W.L. orbit location will be discontinued
       upon the termination of EchoStar‘s temporary authority to operate on
       these channels;

       11)   must provide the following language to its customers in its
       monthly billing statements:

                      "The [name of module(s)] is only
                      temporarily available. Dish Network will
                      discontinue these services upon the
                      termination of Dish Network‘s temporary
                      authority to operate on these channels.
                      Therefore, [name of module] will cease to
                      be available to you upon the termination of
                      Dish Network‘s temporary authority to
                      operate on these channels without prior
                      notice. If you have any questions, please
                      call us toll—free at [insert telephone
                      number]."


       111)    must include in all marketing notification that service is being
       provided on a temporary basis and may be diminished or discontinued at
       any time. Any failure to comply with customer notification procedures
       will be subject to enforcement action.

               b) Use of channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L. orbit location is for
       free—standing separate programming packages that are not required as a
       condition of purchasing any other programming packages and that are
       readily capable of being withdrawn on short notice. Consumers should
       not have any expectation that the packages that they are purchasing
       include additional programming provided over channels 23 and 24. Any
       failure to comply with this programming requirement will be subject to
       enforcement action.

         4.      EchoStar must file a report by June 30, 2010 describing the status of the
replacement satellite for the EchoStar 3 satellite, and the operating status of the EchoStar
3 satellite. In its report, EchoStar should indicate the status of the replacement satellite,
as well as the status of the associated launch vehicle.

       5.      EchoStar must file a report on June 30, 2010 describing any change to the
operating status since EchoStar filed its Status Report for the EchoStar 3 satellite on
December 30, 2009.

        6.      EchoStar shall cease operations on channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L.
orbit location upon the launch and operation of a satellite regularly licensed to operate on
these channels at this location.

        7.     This Special Temporary Authority is conditioned on the outcome of any
rules adopted in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Proceeding in IB Docket 06—160
(DBS License Processing Procedures Rulemaking).

      8.     This Special Temporary Authority is conditioned on the outcome of the
Commission decision on the petition for reconsideration of eligibility restrictions for
DBS Channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L. orbital location.

        9.      This Action is taken pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules
on delegated authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective immediately. Petitions for
reconsideration under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the
Commission‘s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.106, 1.115, may be filed within 30 days of the date
of the public notice indicating that this action was taken.


                                       Files     SM— S$10—2010 0224 —0c037

                                       Call Sign _              Grant Date O4/0@/16
                                       (or other identifier)
                                                                Term Dates   }
                          .            From 03/28/'0                  To: 03/24/6
               |    GRANTEDpY*               en
               i International Bureau_| Approved:          felf}     /fimf/
               Ksugea}do,                                  S¥éphen 3. Duall
                         conditions                            CMief, Sadellite Alicy 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 SATSTA2009082100092 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).
C3 Governmental Entity        ;% Noncommercial educational licensee
{3 Other(please explain):

4b. Fee Classification

5. Type Request

q4 Change Station Location                         ) Extend Expiration Date                         g3 Other


6. Temporary Orbit Location                                                7. Requested Extended Expiration Date
                                                                                2010—09—24 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 requests renewal of its special temporary authority to operate a DBS
     satellite using channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5 W.L.                              orbital location for an additional 180
     days.       See the attached narrative.




9. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is subject @ Yes               {34 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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                                     Before the
                      FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of                                                                                     File No. SAT—STA—20060324—00029




                                                      Nes Nume! Nune! Nee‘ Nuwe! Suw! Nt Nas! Nus!
                                                                                                     File No. SAT—STA—20070105—00008
ECHOSTAR CORPORATION                                                                                 File No. SAT—STA—20070329—00058
                                                                                                     File No. SAT—STA—20070926—00133
Request for Renewal of Special Temporary                                                             File No. SAT—STA—20080325—00082
Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite                                                    File No. SAT—STA—20080923—00193
Over Channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L.                                                            File No. SAT—STA—20090325—00038
Orbital Location                                                                                     File No. SAT—STA—20090821—00092
                                                                                                     File No. SAT—STA—2010___—


         REQUEST FOR RENEWAL OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

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

("STA") to operate on Channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L. orbital location for an additional

180 days.‘ EchoStar also requests that the Commission grant the requested renewal subject to

the same temporary suspension of the customer notification and programming conditions that the

International Bureau approved for the 61.5° W.L. STA." Consistent with that Bureau decision,

grant of this renewal request will continue to serve the public interest.




        ‘ On February 3, 2010, EchoStar requested authority to operate its EchoStar 6 satellite at
the 61.65° W.L. as an in—orbit spare and to activate the communications payload as needed. File
No. SAT—LOA—20100203—00019 (filed Feb. 3, 2010) ("EchoStar 6 Application"). In that
application, EchoStar requested authority to operate the satellite "on any and all channels that are
licensed to EchoStar under permanent authority or STA," including channels 23 and 24. Id4.,
Narrative at 3. EchoStar incorporates the information provided in that application by reference.

      * See EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation, Application for Modification ofSpecial
Temporary Authority to Operate Direct Broadcast Satellite Service over Channels 23 and 24 at
the 61.5° W.L. Orbital Location, Order and Authorization, 22 FCC Red. 2223, ( 5 (rel. Feb. 2,
2007) ("61.5 STA Order"). See also Stamp Grant, File No. SAT—STA—20090821—00092, at 2—3
(granted Dec. 4, 2009).


1.     BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       As EchoStar‘s predecessor—in—interest, EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation

("ESOC") explained in the original STA request, DBS Channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5° W.L.

orbital location have a "unique" history. In stark contrast to the vast majority of DBS spec‘tmm,

these channels have remained unassigned and unlicensed. In fact, these channels "are the only

two remaining unassigned DBS channels in the 12 GHz band that are assigned to the United

States that can provide service to most of the contiguous United States.""

       In an effort to ensure that such valuable spectrum does not lie fallow, the Commission

has provided STAs to DBS providers to operate on these channels for the past eleven years

subject to different conditions. The Commission initially granted EchoStar‘s predecessor an

STA to operate on the unassigned channels as well as 8 channels assigned to Dominion Video

Satellite, Inc. and the 11 channels assigned to Rainbow on March 21, 1998.* Rainbow

subsequently operated on the unassigned channels for a two—year period," before ESOC acquired




       * Rainbow DBS Company, LLC and EchoStar Satellite L.L.C., Memorandum Opinion and
Order, 20 FCC Red. 16868, 29 (rel. Oct. 12, 2005) ("Rainbow 1 Assignment Order‘").

        * See In the Matter ofDirect Broadcasting Satellite Corporation, Application for Special
Temporary Authority to Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite Over Channels 1—21 (odd) and 23—
32 (odd and even) at 61.5° W.L., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Red. 6392 (1998)
("EchoStar 1998 STA Grant‘). For a full description of the regulatory history of these channels,
see File No. SAT—STA—20090821—00092, Narrative, at n. 4 (filed Aug. 21, 2009).

        ° Rainbow DBS Company, LLC, received the STA to operate on the unassigned channels
in 2003. EchoStar Satellite Corporation and Rainbow DBS Company LLC, Order and
Authorization, 18 FCC Red 19825 (2003) ("Rainbow STA Order‘).


the Rainbow 1 satellite and regained authority in 2005.° On January 1, 2008, ESOC assigned the

STA to EchoStar as part of a pro forma corporate reorganization under which ESOC‘s parent,

EchoStar Communications Corporation, spun off its wholly—owned subsidiary, EchoStar.‘ The

Commission has highlighted repeatedly "the importance of ensuring that spectrum can continue

to serve the public rather than lying fallow unnecessarily, even on a temporary basis."* During

the past eleven years, the flexibility provided by this much—needed capacity has proven

instrumental to DBS providers.

       The future of these unassigned channels is, however, also subject to the uncertainty

surrounding the Northpoint decision that vacated the Commission‘s DBS auction rules, and the

DBS freeze implemented by the Commission in response to that decision." As a result, a new

licensee will not be in a position to provide services from these channels for a number of years.

In fact, while the Commission initiated a proceeding in 2006 to establish the mechanism by




        ° The Rainbow STA was assigned to EchoStar Satellite L.L.C. ("ESLLC") in October
2005 as part of the sale of the Rainbow 1 satellite to EchoStar. See EchoStar Satellite L.L.C.,
File No. SAT—STA—20050930—00183 (granted Sept. 30, 2005); see also Rainbow 1 Assignment
Order. The STA was then assigned from ESLLC to EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation
("ESOC") in September 2006. See Application for Pro Forma Assignment ofLicensesfrom
EchoStar Satellite L.L.C. to EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation, File No. SAT—ASG—
20051129—00256 (granted Sep. 13, 2006).

        " See Public Notice, DA 07—4655 (rel. Nov. 16, 2007) (consenting to the transfer of
several authorizations as part of the Spin—Off).

      8 Rainbow STA Order, 8; see also EchoStar 1998 STA Grant, 7 ("furthering the
Commission‘s objective to make efficient use of available spectrum").

        ° Northpoint Technology Ltd. v. FCC, 412 F.3d 145 (D.C. Cir. 2005) ("Northpoint");
Public Notice, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Service Auction Nullified: Commission Sets
Forth Refund Proceduresfor Auction No. 52 Winning Bidders and Adopts a Freeze on All New
DBS Service Applications, FCC 05—213 (rel. Dec. 21, 2005) ("DBS Freeze Notice"). The DBS
freeze does not apply to "requests for special temporary authority." Id. at 2.


which these channels could be ultimately licensed and operated, that proceeding is still

pending."

       In March 2006, ESOC sought an extension of its 61.5° W.L. STA, émd also requested a

modification to relax the STA‘s customer notification requirements."‘ On January 5, 2007,

ESOC filed a request for expedited action on the pending March 2006 STA application." ESOC

also sought to waive temporarily the programming condition to which the STA was subject,

because the deteriorating condition of the EchoStar 3 satellite, co—located at the 61.5° W.L.

orbital location, made it necessary for ESOC to utilize Channels 23 and 24 in order to maintain

regular programming to its subscribers from 61.5° W.L.

       In February 2007, the International Bureau granted ESOC‘s request to renew its STA to

operate Channels 23 and 24 at 61.5° W.L., and found that it would serve the public interest to




       9 See Amendment of the Commission‘s Policies and Rulesfor Processing Applications in
the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service in the United States, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 21
ECC Red. 9443 (2006).

      ! See File No. SAT—STA—20060324—00029. Specifically, this condition required that
ESOC notify subscribers that the services provided using the two unassigned channels are
provided pursuant to a grant of temporary authority and may be reduced or discontinued at any
time. ESOC was also required to provide billing inserts informing consumers of the services
provided on these channels and the expiration date of the temporary authority for the two
channels.

       * See File No. SAT—STA—20070105—00008.

        } Specifically, the condition requires that: "[UJse of channels 23 and 24 at the 61.5°
W.L. orbital location is for free—standing separate programming packages that are not required as
a condition of purchasing any other programming packages and that are readily capable of being
withdrawn on short notice. Consumers should not have any expectation that the packages they
are purchasing include additional programming provided over channels 23 and 24. Any failure
to comply with this programming requirement will be subject to enforcement action." Rainbow
STA Order at [ 18.


suspend temporarily the customernotification and programming conditions."* In particular, the

Bureau found that "[sfuspending these restrictions will enable EchoStar to avoid any further

disruption to its customers as a result of the EchoStar 3 transponder failures. It will also avoid

confusion to its customers regarding the continued availability of programming.""" Further, the

Bureau held that "[tJemporary suspension will give EchoStar greater flexibility to meet its

customers‘ needs until it is able to launch its planned replacement satellite into that location later

this year.""°

IL.     GRANT OF A RENEWAL STA SUBJECT TO THE SAME TEMPORARY
        SUSPENSION OF THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION AND PROGRAMMING
        CONDITIONS WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST

        The same conditions that led the Bureau to grant renewal of the STA for Channels 23 and

24 and to temporarily suspend the customer notification and programming conditions for the

STA in the 61.5°8TA Order are still applicable. EchoStar 3 continues to operate at diminished

capacity due to the earlier transponder failures. As a result, EchoStar still needs to utilize

Channels 23 and 24 to maintain regular programming from the 61.5° W.L. orbital location.

        Since the March 2008 failure of EchoStar 3°s intended replacement, AMC—14, to reach

orbit, EchoStar has been actively considering other possible plans for relieving EchoStar3 at

61.5° W.L. As EchoStar informed the Commuission in its EchoStar 6 Application, the EchoStar 3

satellite recently lost additional transponder capacity.""‘ EchoStar has contracted with Space


        4 61.5 STA Order, 5.
        " Id. 6.
          14. «[ 7. The Bureau has since granted EchoStar‘s request for renewal of the STA three
times. See File No. SAT—STA—20080923—00193; File No. STA—20090325—00038; File No. SAT—
STA—20090821—00092.

        " EchoStar 6 Application, Narrative at 1.


Systems/Loral for the construction of EchoStar 15, a 32—transponder—capable DBS satellite that,

in light of the loss of AMC—14, will effectively replace EchoStar 3 at 61.5° W.L."" EchoStar 15

is expected to be ready for launch by the fourth quarter of 2010.

         Thus, grant of a renewal STA subj éct to the same temporary suspension of the customer

notification and programming conditions will continue to "enable EchoStar to avoid any further

disruption to its customers as a result of the EchoStar 3 transponder failures" and "will give

EchoStar greater flexibility to meet its customers‘ needs until it is able to launch its planned

replacement satellite. »19

III.     CONCLUSION

         The Commission should renew the STA to operate on Channels 23 and 24 for an

additional 180 days subject to the same terms and conditions provided for in the 61. 5° ST4

Order.

                                               Respectfully submitted,

                                                          Is/

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

Counselfor EchoStar Corporation

February 26, 2010



      % See In re EchoStar Corporation: Status Report on EchoStar 3 (Redacted), File No.
SAT—STA—20090821—00092 (filed Dec. 30, 2009).

         * 61.5 STA Order,    5.



Document Created: 2019-04-14 03:36:29
Document Modified: 2019-04-14 03:36:29

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