Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SES-LIC-20190906-01170 for License on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESLIC2019090601170_1888234

APPLICATION FOR GATEWAY EARTH STATION I. OVERVIEW The Commission has authorized Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (“SpaceX”) to launch and operate a constellation of 4,409 non-geostationary orbit (“NGSO”) satellites (call sign S2983/S3018) using Ku- and Ka-band spectrum. 1 In doing so, the Commission recognized that granting the SpaceX Authorization would “allow SpaceX to make efficient use of valuable spectrum resources more safely, quickly, and cost-effectively as it initiates a new generation of broadband services available to customers worldwide, including those in areas previously underserved or even totally unserved by other broadband solutions.” 2 In May, SpaceX began launching satellites to populate its constellation. This application, filed by a sister company, SpaceX Services, Inc. (“SpaceX Services”), seeks authority to operate a Ka-band gateway earth station that SpaceX will use to deliver broadband data between the satellites of its NGSO system and terrestrial Internet exchange points. Specifically, SpaceX Services seeks authority for eight technically identical 1.5-meter antennas in Greenville, Pennsylvania (the “Greenville Gateway”). Consistent with SpaceX’s space station authorization, these earth stations will transmit in the 28.35-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz bands and receive in the 17.8-18.6 GHz and 18.8-19.3 GHz bands. 3 Below, we discuss certain spectrum sharing issues relevant to the operation of these earth stations. We then demonstrate that grant of this application would serve the public interest. Lastly, 1 See Space Exploration Holdings, LLC, 33 FCC Rcd. 3391 (2018) (“SpaceX Authorization”); Space Exploration Holdings, LLC, 34 FCC Rcd. 2526 (IB 2019) (“SpaceX Modification”). These authorizations anticipate that Ka- band spectrum would be used for gateway communications. 2 SpaceX Modification, ¶ 1. 3 Note that SpaceX Services does not at this time seek authority to operate this earth station in the 27.5-28.35 GHz band designated for use by the Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service (“UMFUS”) on a primary basis, with a secondary designation for FSS. 1


Document Created: 2019-09-06 13:18:33
Document Modified: 2019-09-06 13:18:33
© 2024 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC