Attachment Extension grant

Extension grant

DECISION submitted by FCC

Extension grant

2009-08-11

This document pretains to SES-STA-20090625-00795 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2009062500795_731143

>,;—7 E070098 SES—STA—20090625—00795 1B2009001747 TerreStar License Inc. Approved by OMB 3060—0678 APPLICATION FOR EARTH STATION SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY APPLICANT INFORMATIONEnter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu: Gateway station, Phase I IOT, 60 day extension (June 2009 refile) 1. Applicant Name: TerreStar License Inc. Phone Number: 703—483—7800 DBA Name: Fax Number: Street: 12010 Sunset Hills Road E—Mail: doug.brandon@terrestar.com City: Reston State: VA Country: USA Zipcode: 20190 — Attention: MrDouglas I Brandon _ messeS<TA2010430049¢~ Call Sign _______ GrantDate_I/It/d 9 (or other identifier)

Attachment SES—STA—20090625—00795 Condition: All operations shall be on an unprotected and non—harmful interference basis, i.e., TerreStar License Inc. shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall not claim protection from, interference caused to it by any other lawfully operating station and it shall cease transmission(s) immediately upon notice of such interference. W ith Cirvelte m mes S657420AbeS—4d0FTS Call Sign _________ Grant z’ms-r,_,_,,Y[[(,Zéfi {or other identifier) Term T)atesc To:

2. Contact Name: Joseph A. Godles, Esq. Phone Number: 202—429—4900 Company: Goldberg Godles Wiener & Wright Fax Number: 202—429—4912 Street: 1229 19th Street, NW E—Mail: jgodles@g2w2.com City: Washington State: DC Country: USA Zipcode: 20036 —2413 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 SESLIC2007053000732 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). 3 Governmental Entity g4 Noncommercial educational licensee C Other(please explain): 4b. Fee Classification CGX — Fixed Satellite Transmit/Receive Earth Station 5. Type Request C Use Prior to Grant 3 Change Station Location @ Other 6. Requested Use Prior Date 07/31/2009 7. CityNorth Las Vegas 8. Latitude (dd mm ss.s h) 36 14 9.9 N

9. State NV 10. Longitude (dd mmss.s h) 115 7 1.3 W 11. Please supply any need attachments. Attachment 1: STA extension Attachment 2: Attachment 3: 12. 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.) In accordance with the details of the attached exhibit, Applicant hereby requests a 60—day extensgion, commencing July 31, 2009, of its Special Temporary Authority, in order to continue conducting in—orbit testing (I0T) of the TerreStar—1 satellite using its gateway earth station facility licensed under Call Sign EO70098. (The instant request is being 13. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is Yes £4 No subject 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 &quot;party to the application&quot; for these purposes. 14. Name of Person Signing 15. Title of Person Signing Douglas I Brandon General Counsel and Senior Vice President 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).

FCC NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT The public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the required data, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. If you have any comments on this burden estimate, or how we can improve the collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please write to the Federal Communications Commission, AMD—PERM, Paperwork Reduction Project (3060—0678), Washington, DC 20554. We will also accept your comments regarding the Paperwork Reduction Act aspects of this collection via the Internet if you send them to PRA@fce.gov. PLEASE DO NOT SEND COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. Remember — You are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number orif we fail to provide you with this notice. This collection has been assigned an OMB control number of 3060—0678. THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995, PUBLIC LAW 104—13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. SECTION 3507.

12. Description In accordance with the details of the attached exhibit, Applicant hereby requests a 60—day extension, commencing July 31, 2009, of its Special Temporary Authority, in order to continue conducting in—orbit testing (IOT) of the TerreStar—1 satellite using its gateway earth station facility licensed under Call Sign EO70098. (The instant request is being submitted to replace an original request submitted as SES—STA—20090522—00643, which has been withdrawn.)

Exhibit 1 REQUEST FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORTY* TerreStar License Inc. ("TerreStar"), pursuant to Section 25.120 of the Commission‘s rules, hereby requests Special Temporary Authority ("STA") to conduct in—orbit testing ("IOT") of the TerreStar—1 satellite in the manner described below. This STA request covers IOT operations during the first of two IOT phases. During Phase I, IOT will be conducted in the United States via the following three facilities: (1) TerreStar—1, a Canadian—licensed satellite as to which TerreStar holds a letter of intent ("LOI") authorization (Call Sign $2633) to serve the United States; (2) the 6.3—m and 9.3—m antennas associated with TerreStar‘s licensed gateway earth station located in North Las Vegas, Nevada (Call Sign E070098) (all gateway IOT transmission and reception will be via the 9.3—m antenna with the exception of the telecommand transmissions on 13.7505 and 13.7525GHz, which will be via the 6.3—m antenna); and (3) an unlicensed 1.8— m mobile earth terminal ("MET")* that will be co—located with TerreStar‘s North Las Vegas gateway earth station. Phase I IOT also will be conducted via TerreStar‘s other gateway earth station, which has been licensed by Industry Canada and is located at Allan Park, Ontario, Canada. This exhibit describes the operational parameters during Phase I IOT for all three facilities that will be used to conduct IOT in the United States. A copy of this exhibit accompanies each of the STA requests TerreStar is filing in connection with Phase I IOT. The STA request form this exhibit is attached to identifies, for each Phase I IOT STA request: (1) the time period for which an STA is sought; and (2) the facility for which an STA is sought. Based on discussions with the FCC‘s staff, and in light of the fact that no FCC radio license has been issued for TerreStar—1, TerreStar is not filing any request for special temporary authority for the satellite in connection with IOT. Rather, TerreStar is identifying in the IOT STA requests relating to TerreStar‘s gateway earth station in North Las Vegas the parameters for TerreStar—1‘s operations during IOT that deviate from the parameters on which the LOI authorization for TerreStar—1 are based. * The instant requests for Special Temporary Authority are being filed as replacements for original requests submitted as SES—STA—20090522—00643 and SES—STA—20090522—00647, in order to correct a technical detail as it relates to the proposed operation of TerreStar‘s gateway antennas. (Those referenced applications have been withdrawn.) The instant requests do not contemplate any changes to the proposed operation of the other, non—gateway antenna facilities. 1 The 1.8—m MET, which will operate in a temporary fixed mode, uses a custom antenna that is designed for the express purpose of testing service link performance on TerreStar—1. The 1.8—m MET is entirely different from the MET handsets that will be used by TerreStar‘s customers.

Exhibit 1 STA is required because the technical operations required for IOT go beyond the operations authorized by TerreStar‘s FCC licenses and authorizations. In particular, TerreStar requires authority for the following operations that are not already authorized: Q TerreStar—1: Use of unmodulated (CW) carriers not covered by the LOI authorization and use of power levels higher than are authorized by the LOI authorization 0 NLV gateway: Use of 13.7505 GHz and 13.7525 GHz contingency telecommand carriers via the 6.3—m gateway antenna (the gateway license limits use of these frequencies to periods during which on—station telecommand operations cannot be conducted in the 12.75—13.0 GHz frequency band and requires an STA if the contingency on—station telecommand carriers will be used for more than five consecutive days) Q NLV gateway: Use of unmodulated (CW) carriers in the 12.75— 13.25 GHz band that are not covered by the license and use of power levels higher than are authorized by the license (this STA request includes a Comsearch report reflecting temporary coordination of the unmodulated carriers) Q NLV gateway: Use of higher power and wider bandwidth for 12.751 and 12.999 GHz command carriers than is authorized by the license and corresponding changes to the emission designators for the carriers. The EIRP, EIRP density, and bandwidth of these command carriers have been increased to 72 dBW, 48.8 dBW, and 832 kHz, respectively, from what is currently licensed. (this STA request includes a Comsearch report reflecting temporary coordination of the higher power and wider bandwidth) Q NLV gateway: Feeder link transmissions on discrete frequencies in the upper half of the 12.75—13.25 GHz band (the gateway license authorizes transmissions only in the lower half of the band,; this STA request includes a Comsearch report reflecting temporary coordination of the additional frequencies) O NLV gateway: Use of a different polarization and higher power for the 12.992 GHz CW pilot signal than is authorized by the license (the license shows right hand polarization; left hand polarization will be used). The EIRP and EIRP density of the

Exhibit 1 pilot signal has been increased to 80 dBW from what is currently licensed (this STA request includes a Comsearch report reflecting temporary coordination of the CW carriers). 0 NLV gateway: Use of wider bandwidth for 11.2005 GHz and 11.4495 GHz telemetry carriers than is authorized by the license and corresponding changes to the emission designators for the carriers. The bandwidth of these telemetry carriers have been increased to 400 kHz from whatis currently licensed. O NLV gateway: Use of 5 MHz carriers in the 12.75—13.00 GHz band that are not covered by the license (this STA request includes a Comsearch report reflecting temporary coordination of the 5 MHz carriers).2 C 1.8—m MET: Operation of this earth station, which has not been licensed L. Introduction TerreStar is scheduled to launch its TerreStar—1 satellite on June 24, 2009. Once the satellite has reached its assigned orbital position of 111.0° W.L., TerreStar will need to perform IOT of its communication payload to ensure that no components were damaged during the launch procedures. The IOT will be performed by employees of TerreStar‘s satellite contractor, Space Systems Loral ("Loral"), under TerreStar‘s direction and supervision. The IOT will consist of two sequential phases. During Phase I, the satellite‘s primary components and communication payload will be tested, and engineers will obtain critical in—orbit performance measurements for the first time following the launch. During Phase II, the components related to its Satellite Beam—forming Network ("SBN") will be tested as engineers check the combined payload performance with the Ground—Based Beam Forming ("GBBF") network to determine how well various S—band beams are formed. TerreStar is herein seeking STA to conduct Phase I testing. TerreStar will be submitting separate requests for STA to cover the Phase II testing in the near future, since Phase II testing cannot be performed until the Phase I IOT is completed and since Phase II testing will involve a different set of procedures and parameters from those used in Phase I. The communication payload of the TerreStar—1 satellite consists of two repeater subsystems: one associated with the Forward channel and another one

Exhibit 1 associated with the Return channel. The Forward channel refers to the Ku—to—5 band signal path that originates from a Ku—band gateway facility to the satellite, and then traverses to an S—band device on the ground: in this instance the 1.8—m IOT antenna. The Return channel refers to the reverse link, t.e., from an S—band device such as the 1.8—m IOT antenna to the satellite and then back to the Ku— band gateway on the ground. Table 1 below summarizes the types of signals along with their characteristics that will be employed in each of the Forward payload and Return payload Phase I tests. IL Forward Payload Tests The following key Forward payload tests are planned to be conducted: e S—band EIRP test: The saturated EIRP for each of the 64 active S—band TWTAs will be measured against the expected performance and specification, one at a time, using a steady CW signal. As can be seen in Table 1, the required Ku—band EIRP can be as high as 80 dBW because the uplink signal will be received by a relatively low—gain Ku— band IOT horn instead of the normal high—gain Ku—band communication antenna due to the need for an off—nominal satellite attitude. e Frequency response test: A relatively low—power CW signal will be swept across the 10 MHz S—band (i.e. 2190—2200 MHz) to determine the in—band frequency response of all element paths. e Fixed frequency/backed—off tests: A steady CW signal will be used to determine the path gain and transfer characteristics of all feed/ element paths. Saturation flux density for the paths will also be determined. For gain transfer testing, the uplink EIRP will be swept from a low value to 80 dBW. e Satellite feed path equalization test: A special signal, which consists of a large number of evenly spaced tones across the 5 MHz signal bandwidth, will be radiated to rapidly obtain the complex (ie., magnitude and phase) frequency response of each of the element paths. Additionally, it will obtain the differential path—to—path delays. Both the complex frequency response and the differential path—to—path delay are critical in the GBBF network.

Exhibit 1 Other relatively minor tests, such as determination of transponder gain steps, uplink/downlink translation frequency, and characterization of any spurious signals, also will be conducted. Regarding the S—band downlink, TerreStar is conscious of its interference— related responsibilities with respect to Fixed Service (FS) stations that are operating co—channel with TerreStar in the 2190—2200 MHz band in some locations. TerreStar has selected frequencies for S—band IOT that are optimal for interference avoidance?; all IOT test signals will be short in duration; and the number of transmissions during the test period will be limited. TerreStar has conducted a study and determined that these transmissions all satisfy the interference—avoidance standards specified in TIA‘s Telecommunication System Bulletin (TSB) 86. IIL. Return Payload Tests The types of Return payload test signals along with their characteristics are described in Table 1 below. The following key Return payload tests are planned to be conducted: e Receive antenna pattern test: Each pattern of the elementary beams in the satellite receive direction at S—band will be characterized by radiating a CW signal from the 1.8—m IOT antenna and by skewing the satellite attitude to move the beams across the Ku—band gateway facility at North Las Vegas. e Transmit antenna pattern test Each Ku—band gateway beam in the transmit direction will be characterized by radiating a CW beacon signal from the satellite while the satellite attitude is skewed to move the beams, one at a time, across the Ku—band gateway facility at North Las Vegas. e Gain Transfer test: Saturation flux density for each elementary beam will be determined. e Receive S—band G/T test: The G/T (Gain—to—Noise Temperature ratio) of each return channel will be determined via measurement of (C/ N) in a narrow—band signal with the Ku—band TWTA operating in a linear region. The satellite will be in off—normal attitude. 2 The frequencies are identified in Tables 1 and 2 below.

Exhibit 1 e Frequency response test: A relatively low-powér CW signal will be swept across the 10 MHz S—band (i.e., 2000—2010 MHz) to determine the in—band frequency response of all element paths. e Satellite feed path equalization test: A special signal, which consists of a large number of evenly spaced tones across the 5 MHz signal bandwidth, will be radiated to rapidly obtain the complex (1.e., magnitude and phase) frequency response of each of the element paths. Additionally, it will obtain the differential path—to—path delays. Both the complex frequency response and the differential path—to—path delay are critical in the GBBF network. Other relatively minor tests, such as determination of transponder gain steps, uplink/ downlink translation frequency, and characterization of any spurious signals, also will be conducted. Regarding the IOT test signal transmissions at 2 GHz, TerreStar understands from Sprint‘s submissions to the Commission that BAS stations in both Las Vegas and the near—by Phoenix DMA clusters have been relocated from BAS channels 1 and 2 in the 1990—2025 MHz band.} TerreStar has selected 2004.90 MHz and 2007.75 MHz for S—band IOT transmissions to eliminate the possibility of interference to any BAS receiver. The frequencies selected provide 18 MHz or more of separation between the TerreStar CW test signal and BAS users in the Las Vegas or Phoenix DMAs who have migrated to the new BAS channel plan above 2025 MHz. IV. Contingency Telecommand Frequency Tests Throughout Phase I testing, both on—station command carriers (transmitted at 12.751 GHz and 12.999 GHz) as well as contingency command carriers (transmitted at 13.7505 GHz and 13.7525 GHz) will be used to command and range the satellite. The contingency command carriers are necessary to command and range the satellite for those Phase I tests that require off—nominal attitude positioning of the satellite, which will position each of the elementary 3 Sprint‘s filings also show that the Los Angeles and Palm Spring DMA clusters, which are further removed from Las Vegas, are to be cleared by June 2009. Even if the Los Angeles and Palm Springs DMAs failed to transition on schedule to the new BAS channel plan in June, the elevation and azimuth angles of the 1.8 meter antenna would only cover the far eastern edge of the Mohave Desert. Moreover, the 1.8m antenna has excellent sidelobe suppression and off—axis discrimination characteristics. Finally, the 2007.75 MHz test frequency was selected because it resides at the upper edge of BAS channel A1 which will be immune to interference from the narrowband CW emission. Similarly, the 2004.9 MHz test frequency was selected because it resides at the upper edge of a BAS channel A1 emission that is narrowed in place which will be immune to interference from a narrowband CW emission.

Exhibit 1 beams under test over the main test site in North Las Vegas. The 13.7505 GHz and 13.7525 GHz signals will be transmitted in bursts lasting approximately two minutes. During the first few days of IOT, ranging signals will be transmitted once every half hour. After that, the signals will be transmitted once every hour. V. Conclusion TerreStar‘s request for STA is supported by good cause. Grant of the instant STA request is in the public interest, as it will enable TerreStar to perform in—orbit testing on its TerreStar—1 satellite and ensure the proper functioning of the satellite‘s communications payload in anticipation of providing service to the public over the satellite and the network‘s gateway antennas.

Exhibit 1 Table 1. TerreStar Satellite IOT Test Signal Characteristics S—band Bandwidth S—band Estimated Estimated Ku—band Ku—band EIRP (in Used Frequency Duration for Number of EIRP Frequency (in dBW) (in MHz) each Test Signal Instances of from/at MHz) Transmission (in Test Signal NLV (in minutes; see Transmission dBW) Notes 1 & 2) (see Note 1) Forward Payload Tests S—band EIRP Test 57.6 CW 2199.900 150 80 (see Table 2) 2193.609 Frequency 45.6 10 MHz 2190—2200 140 62 12750—13250 Response Test swept CW Fixed— 45.6 CW 2199.900 200 62 (see Table 2) Frequency/backed— 2193.609 off Tests Satellite Feed Path 51.6 5 MHz 2190—2200 60 50 62 12750—13250 Equalization Test (see Note 3) Return Payload Tests Receive Antenna 37 CW 2007.75 N/A N/A 15 10700—10950 Pattern Test 11200—11450 Transmit Antenna N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 21 11448 Pattern Test Gain Transfer Test 37 CW 2007.75 N/A N/A 33 10700—10950 (NLV) 11200—11450 2004.90 (APK) Receive S—band 20 CW 2007.75 N/A N/A 33 10700—10950 G/T Test (NLV) 11200—11450 2004.90 (APK) Frequency 20 10 MHz 2000—2010 N/A N/A 33 10700—10950 Response Test swept CW 11200—11450 Satellite Feed Path 35.5 5 MHz 2000—2010 N/A N/A 13.5 10700—10950 Equalization Test 11200—11450 Note 1: Each 10 MHz sweep or each forward path testing using a steady CW is considered as one Test Signal Transmission. Note 2: Duration is the duration of the actual signal transmission (and therefore interference) and does not include the time it takes to maneuver the satellite or position the beams. Note 3: Ku—band transmission from NLV will be in 12750—13000 MHz; that from AP will be in 13000—13250 MHz. Note 4: All entries are estimates

Exhibit 1 Table 2. Ku—band Element Frequencies that correspond to Two S—band Test Signal Frequencies in Forward Payload Tests S—band 2199.9 MHz S—band 2193.609 MHz Element No. Element No. Frequency Frequency 1 12764.9 13008.609 i _\ C0 J O OI B GQ ho 2 12771.9 13015.609 3 12778.9 13022.609 4 12785.9 13029.609 5 12792.9 13036.609 6 12799.9 13043.609 7 12806.9 13050.609 8 12813.9 13057.609 9 12820.9 13064.609 10 12827.9 13071.609 11 12834.9 13078.609 MHz 12 12841.9 13085.609 MHz 13 12848.9 13092.609 MHz 14 12855.9 MHz 13099.609 MHz 15 12862.9 MHz 13106.609 MHz 16 12869.9 MHz 13113.609 17 12876.9 MHz 13120.609 MHz 18 12883.9 13127.609 19 12890.9 MHz 13134.609 20 12897.9 MHz 13141.609 21 12904.9 MHz 13148.609 22 12911.9 MHz 13155.609 23 12918.9 MHz 13162.609 24 12925.9 MHz 13169.609 MHz 25 12932.9 MHz 13176.609 MHz 26 12939.9 MHz 13183.609 27 12946.9 MHz 13190.609 MHz 28 12953.9 MHz 13197.609 MHz 29 12960.9 MHz 13204.609 30 12967.9 MHz 13211.609 MHz 31 12974.9 MHz 13218.609 MHz 32 12981.9 13225.609


Document Created: 2019-04-28 12:16:43
Document Modified: 2019-04-28 12:16:43
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