Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20150712-00045 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2015071200045_1095928

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



In the Matter of                                     )
                                                     )
EchoStar Satellite Operating                         ) File Nos. SAT-STA-20141217-00132
Corporation                                          )            SAT-STA-20141217-00134
                                                     )            SAT-STA-20141217-00135
Application for Renewal of Special                   )
Temporary Authority to Operate on                    ) Call Signs: S2741, S2653, S2844
Channels 1 and 2 at 61.5° W.L.                       )

                               APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF
                              SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

          EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation (“ESOC”, and collectively with its affiliates,

    “EchoStar”) hereby requests a renewal of its 180-day special temporary authority (“STA”) to

    operate the EchoStar 3, EchoStar 12, and EchoStar 16 satellites on channels 1 and 2 at the

    nominal 61.5° W.L. orbital location. The current STAs expire on August 9, 2015.1

    I.     INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

           EchoStar currently operates the EchoStar 3, EchoStar 12, and EchoStar 16 satellites in

    and around the 61.5º W.L. orbital cluster. The EchoStar 3 satellite, launched in 1998, was the

    first satellite in position at 61.5º W.L. and is currently an in-orbit spare operating under STA at

    61.8° W.L.2 EchoStar 12, launched in 2003, is located at 61.35° W.L.3 EchoStar 16, which




1
 See Stamp Grants, File Nos. SAT-STA-20141217-00134, Call Sign S2653 (granted Feb. 18,
2015); SAT-STA-20141217-00135, Call Sign S2741 (granted Feb. 18, 2015); SAT-STA-
20141217-00132, Call Sign S2844 (granted Feb. 18, 2015).
2
    Stamp Grant, File No. SAT-STA-20150514-00036, Call Sign S2741 (granted Jul. 9, 2015).
3
 Stamp Grant, File No. SAT-MOD-20100310-00042, Call Sign S2653 (granted Jun. 9, 2010);
see also Narrative, File No. SAT-MOD-20130905-00113, Call Sign S2653 (granted Feb. 27,
2013) (application for renewal of authorization to operate at 61.35° W.L.).


                                                    1


    became operational in February 2013,4 ensures the continued full utilization of the DBS

    spectrum at that orbital location.

            On June 22, 2012, the Commission granted EchoStar’s applications to modify the

    authorized channels on these space stations from the nominal 61.5° W.L. orbital location from

    Direct Broadcast Satellite (“DBS”) service channels 1-22 and 25-32 to DBS channels 3-32,

    and for 180-day STA to operate on channels 1 and 2, upon receipt of notification that EchoStar

    16 had commenced operations.5 EchoStar filed this notification on February 19, 2013.6 On

    August 15, 2013, the Commission granted EchoStar’s applications for renewal of its STA for

    EchoStars 3, 12, and 16 to operate on channels 1 and 2.7 The Commission again granted these

    authorities on February 26, 2014, August 20, 2014 and again February 18, 2015.8

    II.    THIS REQUEST IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, IS CONSISTENT WITH
           PAST PRECEDENT, AND WILL NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE

           Renewal of the 180-day STA to operate EchoStars 3, 12, and 16 on channels 1 and 2

    at the 61.5° W.L. nominal orbital location is in the public interest for the reasons set forth in

4
 Letter from Jaime Londono, Vice President, Advanced Programs & Spectrum Management,
EchoStar Technologies LLC, to Fern Jarmulnek, Acting Chief, Satellite Division, International
Bureau, FCC (Feb. 19, 2013) (“EchoStar 16 Letter”), filed in File No. SAT-LOA-20110902-
00172, Call Sign S2844 (stating that EchoStar 16 became operational at 61.5° W.L. on February
14, 2013).
5
 EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation, Order and Authorization, 27 FCC Rcd 7138, 7141
¶¶ 10-11 (IB 2012) (“June 2012 Order”)
6
    EchoStar 16 Letter.
7
 See Stamp Grants, File Nos. SAT-STA-20130626-00089, Call Sign S2653 (granted Aug. 15,
2013); SAT-STA-20130626-00090, Call Sign S2741 (granted Aug. 15, 2013); SAT- STA-
20130626-00088, Call Sign S2844 (granted Aug. 15, 2013).
8
  See Stamp Grants, File Nos. SAT-STA-20140106-00002, Call Sign S2653 (granted Feb. 26,
2014); SAT-STA-20140106-0003, Call Sign S2741 (granted Feb. 26, 2014); SAT-STA-
20140106-00001, Call Sign S2844 (granted Feb. 26, 2014); File Nos. SAT-STA-20140624-
00079, Call Sign S2653 (granted Aug. 20, 2014); SAT-STA-20140624-00078, Call Sign S2741
(granted Aug. 20, 2014); SAT-STA-20140624-00080, Call Sign S2844 (granted Aug. 20, 2014);
see supra note 1


                                                     2


    the original STA grant, which is incorporated herein by reference.9 EchoStar will continue to

    comply with the conditions on the use of the channels set forth in the original grant as

    follows:10


           1.        EchoStar’s use of channels 1 and 2 shall cause no harmful interference to any
                     other lawfully operating radio station, and EchoStar shall cease operation on
                     these channels immediately upon notification of such interference.

           2.        EchoStar shall not claim protection from interference from any other
                     lawfully operating radio station with respect to its operations on channels 1
                     and 2.

           3.        EchoStar has informed its customers in writing that services using channels 1 and
                     2 from the 61.5° W.L. cluster will be discontinued upon the termination of
                     its temporary authority to operate on these channels.

           4.        EchoStar will continue to provide the required terms set forth in the original
                     grant in its monthly billing statements and marketing notifications.

           5.        EchoStar will continue to use channels 1 and 2 at the nominal 61.5° W.L.
                     orbital location only 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.

           6.        EchoStar shall cease operations on channels 1 and 2 at the 61.5° W.L. orbital
                     location upon the launch and operation of a satellite regularly licensed to
                     operate on these channels at this location.

    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

    use 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.




9
    See June 2012 Order.
10
     See id. ¶ 11.


                                                     3


IV.    CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, ESOC respectfully requests the grant of its applications for

a renewal of STA to operate EchoStars 3, 12, and 16 on channels 1 and 2 at the nominal 61.5°

W.L. orbital location.

                                             Respectfully submitted,


                                              /s/ Jennifer A. Manner
                                             Jennifer A. Manner
                                             Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
                                             EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation
                                             11717 Exploration Lane
                                             Germantown, MD 20876
                                             (301)428-5893
                                             jennifer.manner@echostar.com

July 12, 2015




                                               4



Document Created: 2015-07-12 16:16:12
Document Modified: 2015-07-12 16:16:12

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