Attachment Exhibit 1

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20140113-00004 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2014011300004_1032680

                                             EXHIBIT 1

        APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY
                           (Response to Question 43)

          Pursuant to Section 25.120(b)(3) of the Commission’s rules, 1 EchoStar Satellite

Operating Corporation and EchoStar Broadcasting Corporation (collectively, “EchoStar”)

request to renew their special temporary authorizations (“STAs”) for 60 days – until March 28,

2014 – to operate: (i) the EchoStar 6 satellite at 96.2º W.L. (Call Sign S2232); (ii) two earth

stations to provide telemetry, tracking, and control (“TT&C”) communications with EchoStar 6

at 96.2º W.L. (Call Signs E020306 and E080120); and (iii) an earth station to provide TT&C and

feeder link communications with EchoStar 6 at 96.2º W.L. (Call Sign E070273). 2 EchoStar’s

license modification applications for regular authority to operate EchoStar 6 at 96.2º W.L. and

the three related earth stations remain pending before the Commission. 3

I.        BACKGROUND

          Prior to its relocation to 96.2º W.L., EchoStar 6 served as an important component of the

EchoStar network, providing direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) service from the nominal 77º

W.L. orbital location to U.S. consumers (via DISH Network). In February 2013, a new satellite
1
    See 47 C.F.R. § 25.120(b)(3).
2
  See EchoStar Satellite Operating Company, Order and Authorization, DA 13-593 (IB April 1, 2013)
(“EchoStar 6 STA Order”); Satellite Communications Services Information re: Actions Taken, Public
Notice, Report No. SES-01540, at 25 (Apr. 3, 2013). EchoStar’s prior requests to renew the existing
STAs to operate EchoStar 6 at 96.2º W.L. and the three related earth stations until January 27, 2014,
remain pending before the Commission. See EchoStar Applications for STA Renewal, IBFS File Nos.
SAT-STA-20130510-00067, SES-STA-20130510-00382, SES-STA-20130510-00383, and SES-STA-
20130510-00384 (May 10, 2013); IBFS File Nos. SAT-STA-20130716-00093, SES-STA-20130716-
00634, SES-STA-20130716-00635, and SES-STA-20130716-00636 (July 16, 2013); IBFS File Nos.
SAT-STA-20130912-00115, SES-STA-20130912-00797, SES-STA-20130912-00798, and SES-STA-
20130912-00799 (Sept. 12, 2013); IBFS File Nos. SAT-STA-20131113-00131, SES-STA-20131113-
00970, SES-STA-20131113-00971, and SES-STA-20131113-00977 (Nov. 13, 2013).
3
 See Policy Branch Information: Satellite Space Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report
No. SAT-00946, at 1 (May 3, 2013) (accepting File Nos. SAT-MOD-20130227-00026 and SAT-AMD-
20130429-00063); EchoStar Application for Modification, File Nos. SES-MFS-20130307-00232, SES-
MFS-20130307-00233, and SES-MFS-20130307-00234 (Mar. 7, 2013).


4844-2194-8179.1


(EchoStar 16) commenced service, thus facilitating a series of fleet movements that then allowed

EchoStar to consider placing EchoStar 6 into a more productive role at a new orbital location. In

anticipation of EchoStar 6 potentially becoming available for use at a new orbital location,

EchoStar and its customer and development partner, SES Satellites (Bermuda) Ltd. (“SES”),

began evaluating the availability of unused DBS orbital locations. Specifically, EchoStar and

SES focused on the potential to serve the Caribbean, Latin American, and North Atlantic markets

outside the United States from the 96.2º W.L. orbital location pursuant to a U.K. filing (known as

BERMUDASAT-1) with the International Telecommunication Union.

          Consequently, pursuant to the existing STA granted on April 1, 2013, 4 EchoStar 6 was

successfully repositioned to 96.2º W.L. on April 13 and is in operation there. EchoStar and SES

have commenced commercial development activities to leverage this asset to serve consumers in

the Atlantic Ocean region. 5 Moreover, on July 9, 2013, the Commission issued an order

upholding the initial STA grant and denying Spectrum Five LLC’s application for review. 6

II.       THE REQUESTED STA RENEWAL WILL SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST
          WITHOUT CAUSING HARMFUL INTERFERENCE

          Renewal of the STA grant will serve the public interest for the same reasons set forth in

the initial STA request 7 and in the EchoStar 6 STA Order. 8 Specifically, continued STA

operations will be consistent with the fleet management flexibility afforded licensees, and will

4
    See EchoStar 6 STA Order ¶ 1.
5
  On April 23, 2013, the Commission denied the request of Spectrum Five LLC (“Spectrum Five”) for a
stay of the STA grant. See EchoStar Satellite Operating Company, Memorandum Opinion and Order,
DA 13-854, ¶ 1 (IB April 23, 2013) (“EchoStar 6 Stay Denial”).
6
 See EchoStar Satellite Operating Company, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 13-93 (rel. July 9,
2013).
7
  See EchoStar Application for STA, File No. SAT-STA-20130220-00023, at 3-5 (Feb. 20, 2013); Letter
from Dean A. Manson, EchoStar, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, File No. SAT-STA-20130220-
00023, at 2-4 (Mar. 11, 2013) (“EchoStar March 11 Letter”).
8
    See EchoStar 6 STA Order ¶ 9; see also EchoStar 6 Stay Denial ¶ 18.

                                                   -2-
4844-2194-8179.1


allow EchoStar and SES to continue developing new markets and innovative satellite video

distribution services to a diverse array of customers, including the maritime industry, in

underserved markets in the Atlantic Ocean region, including Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Latin

America. 9 Significant opportunity exists for EchoStar 6 to offer new multi-channel video

services to U.S. and non-U.S. ships and vessels, 10 and these services can enhance ship operation

and serve the unmet needs of ship crews and passengers. 11 Additional EchoStar 6 services also

may include direct-to-home services to significant portions of the Atlantic Ocean region that

have been neglected by much of the multi-channel video market. 12 Thus, in granting the existing

STA, the Commission found that “[a]llowing satellite operations at an unused orbit location on a

temporary basis is in the public interest because it permits the public to receive services that

would otherwise not be available.” 13

          At the same time, renewal of the STA grant will not cause harmful interference because

EchoStar 6 will continue to be operated on an unprotected, non-harmful interference basis in

accordance with the conditions set forth in the EchoStar 6 STA Order. 14

III.      CONCLUSION

          Based upon the foregoing, EchoStar urges Commission grant of this application for

renewal of its STAs to operate EchoStar 6 at 96.2º W.L. and the three related earth stations for an

additional 60-day period until March 28, 2014.

9
    See EchoStar Application for STA at 3-4; EchoStar March 11 Letter at 2-4.
10
     See EchoStar Application for STA at 4; EchoStar March 11 Letter at 3.
11
     See EchoStar March 11 Letter at 4.
12
     See EchoStar Application for STA at 4; EchoStar March 11 Letter at 4
13
  See EchoStar 6 STA Order ¶ 9; see also EchoStar 6 Stay Denial ¶ 18 (“Because the ESOC STA Grant
authorizes use and facilitates commercial development potentially leading to greater use, we believe it
serves the public interest in spectrum efficiency, particularly given that there are no other imminent uses
during the period of operations authorized.”).
14
     See EchoStar 6 STA Order ¶ 20.

                                                    -3-
4844-2194-8179.1



Document Created: 2014-01-13 14:42:37
Document Modified: 2014-01-13 14:42:37

© 2024 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC