Attachment STA grant

STA grant

DECISION submitted by FCC

STA grant

2009-08-11

This document pretains to SES-STA-20090728-00923 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2009072800923_731895

SES—STA—20090728—00923 1B200900252( 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: CES units, Phase II IOT, initial 30 days (July 2009) 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: Mr Douglas I Brandon [ 0 y | Fite 4_1255‘57’/9’ 20200972Y09q 7

Attachment SES—STA—20090728—00923 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. yJ &4 C/;w:i’cfim ']';rm?’)aics é(} E/ !; :mlw‘%. Ll!A) ireau ‘ Approved: %///////é( OW &W % &

2. Contact Name: Joseph A. G(Sdles, Esq. ' Phone Nuniber: 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 eitherthe file number or the IB Submission ID of the related application. Please enter only one.) 3. Reference File Number SESLIC2009040300405 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). {4 Governmental Entity g"% Noncommercial educational licensee {24 Other(please explain): 4b. Fee Classification CGB — Mobile Satellite Earth Stations 5. Type Request C3 Use Prior to Grant «34 Change Station Location (% Other 6. Requested Use Prior Date 08/11/2009 7. CityVarious 8. Latitude (dd mm ss.s h) O 0O 0.0

9. State 10. Longitude (dd mm ss.s h) 0 0 0.0 11. Please supply any need attachments. Attachment 1: STA 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.) Applicant hereby requests Special Temporary Authority for 30 days, commencing August 11, 2009, in accordance with the details of the attached exhibit, in order to conduct Phase I in—orbit testing (IOT) of the TerreStar—1 satellite using its calibration earth station units. 13. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is Yes «74 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 "party to the application" 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 publicreporting 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@fcc.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.

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 specific to the Satellite Beam—forming Network (SBN), following the successful launch of the TerreStar—1 satellite on July 1, 2009. The Bureau previously granted TerreStar authority to conduct IOT with the TerreStar—1 satellite. In a series of applications,* TerreStar indicated that it was seeking authority under what was called Phase I operations, in which IOT would be conducted in the United States via three facilities to test the communications payload: (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); and (3) an unlicensed 1.8—m mobile earth terminal ("MET") that is co—located with TerreStar‘s North Las Vegas gateway earth station. Phase IIOT is on—going consistent with the parameters sought in TerreStar‘s initial STA requests. In those same STA requests, TerreStar indicated that it would be filing a subsequent set of requests as part of Phase II operations in order to test the SBN. Accordingly, TerreStar is submitting the instant Phase II requests for that purpose. The Phase II requests cover IOT over the three facilities identified above and TerreStar‘s Calibration Earth Stations ("CES").3 This exhibit describes the operational parameters for Phase II IOT in the United States for the three facilities identified above and the CESs. 1 The Bureau granted TerreStar an initial 30—day Special Temporary Authority until August 4, 2009, to operate, respectively, the gateway antennas licensed under Call Sign E070098 and a 1.8—m mobile earth terminal pursuant to the application requests submitted as SES—STA—20090625—00794 and SES—STA—20090523—00646. Furthermore, TerreStar filed requests seeking 60—day extensions of those STA‘s pursuant to the application requests submitted as SES—STA—20090625—00795 and SES— STA—20090523—00644, which requests have been placed on Public Notice as accepted for filing. 2 The 1.8—m MET, operating 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. 3 TerreStar submitted an application (File No. SES—LIC—20090403—00405; Call Sign E090061) on April 1, 2009, seeking authority to operate a network of 15 technically identical calibration earth stations, at fixed locations which point to the TerreStar—1 satellite and dynamically calibrate the channel responses of the satellite beams. TerreStar‘s application remains pending.

Exhibit 1 A copy of this exhibit accompanies each of the STA requests TerreStar is filing in connection with the Phase II IOT. The STA request form this exhibit is attached to identifies, for each Phase II 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. 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: O 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 C 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) O 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) O 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)

Exhibit 1 Q 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 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 what is 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) Q 1.8—m MET: Operation of this earth station, which has not been licensed O CES terminals: Operation of TerreStar‘s 15 technically identical U.S. Calibration Earth Stations in accordance with the parameters specified in connection with application for a license to operate the Calibration Earth Stations O CES terminals: Operation of unmodulated (CW) carriers (operation of these CW carriers is not requested in TerreStar‘s pending CES application), at higher EIRP than requested in TerreStar‘s CES application, by four of TerreStar‘s 15 U.S. CESs, located in San Manuel, AZ, Miami, FL, Austin, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV 1. Introduction TerreStar launched its TerreStar—1 satellite on July 1, 2009. The satellite has since its launch reached its assigned orbital slot of 111.0° W.L. Currently, all satellite systems are functioning normally and the satellite is undergoing the initial check—up of its major subsystems, including both the bus and the communication payload. TerreStar needs to perform IOT of its SBN payload, herein called Phase II IOT, which will commence near the conclusion of the

Exhibit 1 Phase IIOT. The IOT will be performed by employees of TerreStar‘s satellite contractor, Space Systems Loral ("Loral"), under TerreStar‘s direction and supervision. _ During this Phase II IOT, the components related to its Satellite Beam— forming Network 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. As the Commission is aware, the S—band antenna subsystem of TerreStar—1 satellite system is based on the so—called GBBF approach. As such, the ground GBBF equipment, which is housed at the TerreStar gateway sites at both North Las Vegas ("NLV"), NV and Allan Park ("AP"), Ontario, Canada, will need to be tested in a combined manner with the satellite S—band antenna and associated radiating elements to ascertain the actual beam—forming capabilities and performance. In addition, for the first time in orbit, TerreStar will obtain the actual beam patterns of the elemental beams which are essential to the beam—forming task and to compare them against the prediction. The communication payload of the TerreStar—1 satellite consists of two repeater subsystems: one associated with the Forward channel and another one 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, i.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 II tests. IL> Forward Payload Tests With the exception of one test (noted in this section below), all test signals required in Forward payload tests will be transmitted from the GBBF equipment and gateway RF equipment located at NLV at Ku—band and converted to S—band frequencies before being downlinked by the satellite at S—band. The following key tests are planned to be conducted: * Payload bake—out: At the beginning of the Phase II IOT, and toward the conclusion of the Phase I IOT, any residual moisture in the feed array needs to be purged in order to reduce the chances of multipaction or

Exhibit 1 arcing inside waveguide sections carrying high power. All 64 active S— band TWTAs will be driven near/at saturation to heat the feed array. * Interface verification: The signal path from the GBBF equipment, through the gateway RF equipment, to the satellite forward link transponder, will be checked for connectivity for each of the 64 forward paths. * Equalization verification: Verify that amplitude, phase, and delay equalization have been applied to two special single—element beams over NLV. * Calibration verification: Verify that calibration circuitry can properly correct the feederlink—induced amplitude and phase errors. * Pointing verification: Verify that GBBF equipment can correctly compensate for satellite pointing errors. * Beamforming Accuracy test 1 (transmitted from NLV): Verify beam— forming accuracy by measuring each beam response over NLV and compare it against prediction. The GBBF will be operating over the NLV band. * Beamforming Accuracy test 1 (transmitted from AP): Verify beam— forming accuracy by measuring each beam response over NLV and compare it against prediction. The GBBF will be operating over the AP band and the AP gateway RF equipment will be used. * Frequency Response test: Verify the frequency response of a formed spot beam over NLV. * Beamforming Advantage test: Verify the beam—forming gain of a formed spot beam over NLV compared to a single—element beam. 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 test signals that are optimal for interference avoidance; all IOT test signals except the payload bake— out 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, including both the IOT test signals and the payload bake—out

Exhibit 1 signals, satisfy the interference—avoidance standards specified in TIA‘s Telecommunication System Bulletin (TSB) 86. II. Return Payload Tests Most of the test signals required in Return payload tests will be transmitted from the 1.8—m IOT antenna and associated equipment located at NLV at S—band and converted to Ku—band frequencies before being downlinked by the satellite at Ku—band. As described in one of the paragraphs below, one test will involve S—band transmissions by four of TerreStar‘s Calibration Earth Stations ("CES"). The following key tests are planned to be conducted: * Doppler Correction verification: Verify that the Doppler frequency shifts have been corrected for two elements over NLV with significant feederlink frequency separation. Both NLV and AP GBBF equipment will be checked. * Calibration verification: Verify that calibration circuitry can properly correct the feederlink—induced amplitude and phase errors. * Pointing verification: Verify that GBBF equipment can correctly compensate for satellite pointing errors. * Beamforming Accuracy test 1: Verify beam—forming accuracy by . measuring each beam response over NLV and compare it against prediction. Both NLV and AP GBBF equipment will be checked. * Beamforming Accuracy test 2 (transmitted by CES stations): In this test, CES stations will transmit, one at a time and in addition to their normal calibration signals, a CW signal for testing purpose. The test is designed to check the beamforming accuracy using feeds that cover the CES stations used in the test. Additionally, the test will check the ATC nulling accuracy in the return channel. Up to four of TerreStar‘s CESs in the United States, located in in San Manuel, AZ, Miami, FL, Austin, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV, will be used in connection with this test. * Frequency Response test: Verify the frequency response of a formed spot beam over NLV. * Beamforming Advantage test: Verify the beam—forming gain of a formed spot beam over NLV compared to a single—element beam.

Exhibit 1 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 2008.10 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. Similarly, there will be no interference to BAS from the S—band transmissions. TerreStar demonstrated in its CES application that its 15 CES station are sufficiently removed from any BAS receive sites that there will be no interference to the receive sites from CES operations in accordance with the parameters specified in the application. Similarly, there will be no interference to BAS from operation of the four CES stations located in the US (at San Manuel, AZ, Miami, FL, Austin, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV) that are required in one of the return channel tests. This is because BAS channels 1 and 2 have been migrated out of the 1990—2025 MHz band in all four DMAs where the CES stations are located. IV. 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. 4 Sprint‘s BAS Relocation web site indicates all DMAs in southern California have successfully transitioned to the BAS channel plan above 2025 MHz including Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs and Bakersfield. See http: / /www.2ghzrelocation.com/ plugin/ template/broadcast/Welcome/*.

Exhibit 1 Table 1. TerreStar SBN 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 dBWw) (in MHz) each Test Signal Instances of from/at (in MHz) Transmission (in Test Signal NLV {in minutes; see Transmission dBW) Notes 1 & 2) (see Note 1) Forward Payload Tests Payload bake—out 68 5 MHz per 2195—2200 2160 75 12750— feed with a 13000 total of 64 feeds Interface verification 54 CW 2199.900 1 130 80 (see (see Table 2193.609 Note 3) 2) Equalization 51.6 5 MHz 2195—2200 60 62 12750— verification 13000 Calibration verification 72 2*CW 2199.910 1 59 12750— 2199.920 13000 Pointing verification 72 4*CW 2199.890 720 59 12750— 2199.900 13000 2199.910 2199.920 Beamforming 72 4*CW 2199.890 180 59 12750— Accuracy test 1 2199.900 13000 (transmitted from 2199.910 NLV) 2199.920

Exhibit 1 Beamforming 72 4*CW 2193.599 180 N/A 13000— Accuracy test 1 2193.609 13250 (transmitted from AP) 2193.619 2193.629 Frequency Response 62 5 MHz 2195—2200 30 72.5 12750— test 13000 Beamforming 72 2*CW 2199.910 59 12750— Advantage test 2199.920 13000 Return Payload Tests Doppler Correction 37.8 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A 45 10700— verification 2004.9 (AP) 10950 11200— 11450 Calibration verification 37.8 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A 45 10700— 10950 11200— 11450 Pointing verification 37.8 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A . 45 10700— 10950 11200— 11450 Beamforming 37.8 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A 45 10700— Accuracy test 1 2004.9 (AP) 10950 11200— 11450 Beamforming 25 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A 40 10700— Accuracy test 2 10950 (transmitted by 4 CES 11200— stations) 11450 Frequency Response 35.5 5 MHz 2005—2010 N/A N/A 40 10700— test (NLV) 10950 11200— 11450

Exhibit 1 Beamforming 30 CW 2008.1 (NLV) N/A N/A 35 10700— «_ Advantage test— * > . > * n > 10950 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 does not include the time it takes to maneuver the satellite or position the beams. Note 3: Satellite is in off—nominal attitude mode. Note 4: All entries are estimates. 10

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 12764.9 MHz 13008.609 MHz m 3 35 6 0 —~1 d J L 0o N 3 o0 o o —~ o a ho m a o P O G® o B o h _ p 3 3 6 0 4 d J LA o N 3 o o o —</ G a ho N a o O O n G® h o Nn _ 12771.9 MHz 13015.609 MHz 12778.9 MHz 13022.609 MHz 12785.9 MHz 13029.609 MHz 12792.9 MHz 13036.609 MHz 12799.9 MHz 13043.609 MHz 12806.9 MHz 13050.609 MHz 12813.9 MHz 13057.609 MHz 12820.9 MHz 13064.609 MHz 12827.9 MHz 13071.609 MHz t G G N N N N N N N N N NJ —a _s ~s ca 2s Oa 2% ca °& _ & & & N W D N N N N OR N NJ —sa —a —% _a 2x Ox 2k o4A 4 _4 12834.9 MHz 13078.609 MHz 12841.9 MHz 13085.609 MHz 12848.9 MHz 13092.609 MHz 12855.9 MHz 13099.609 MHz 12862.9 MHz 13106.609 MHz 12869.9 MHz 13113.609 MHz 12876.9 MHz 13120.609 MHz 12883.9 MHz 13127.609 MHz 12890.9 MHz 13134.609 MHz 12897.9 MHz 13141.609 MHz 12904.9 MHz 13148.609 MHz 12911.9 MHz 13155.609 MHz 12918.9 MHz 13162.609 MHz 12925.9 MHz 13169.609 MHz 12932.9 MHz 13176.609 MHz 12939.9 MHz 13183.609 MHz 12946.9 MHz 13190.609 MHz 12953.9 MHz 13197.609 MHz 12960.9 MHz 13204.609 MHz 12967.9 MHz 13211.609 MHz 12974.9 MHz 13218.609 MHz 12981.9 MHz 13225.609 MHz 11


Document Created: 2019-06-21 23:20:06
Document Modified: 2019-06-21 23:20:06
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