Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SES-LIC-INTR2019-03187 for License on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESLICINTR201903187_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.

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Document Created: 2019-09-06 13:18:33
Document Modified: 2019-09-06 13:18:33

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