Attachment Narrative

This document pretains to SES-STA-20110204-00113 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2011020400113_867357

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


                                            )        File No. SES-STA-________-_____
                                            )        Call Sign E980081
In the Matter of                            )
                                            )        File No. SES-STA-________-_____
ECHOSTAR CORPORATION                        )        Call Sign E070273
                                            )
Application for Special Temporary Authority )        File No. SES-STA-________-_____
To Operate Four TT&C Earth Stations         )        Call Sign E980005
During the Relocation of EchoStar 6 to      )
76.95º W.L.                                 )        File No. SES-STA-________-_____
                                            )        Call Sign E070014
                                            )


                        EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION REQUESTED

               APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY1

       By this Application, EchoStar Corporation (“EchoStar”) requests special temporary

authority (“STA”) for 30 days to operate four transmit/receive earth stations (Call Signs

E980081, E070273, E980005, and E070014) to provide telemetry, tracking and control

(“TT&C”) in the Broadcasting-Satellite Service (“BSS” or “DBS”) band for the EchoStar 6

satellite as it is relocated from its current location at 61.65 W.L. to, and stationed at, 76.95

W.L. This emergency request is necessary to allow EchoStar to transfer traffic to EchoStar 6

while it completes its restoration activities following the recent single event upset (“SEU”) that



       1
        In conjunction with this application, EchoStar is separately filing an application for
STA to relocate EchoStar 6 to 76.95º W.L, and to station the satellite there. (“Satellite STA
Application”). EchoStar will also separately file (1) an STA to operate EchoStar 6 at 76.95
W.L. for 30 days and (2) an STA to operate three transmit/receive earth stations to provide
TT&C and feeder link service to the satellite while it is located at 76.95 W.L.


temporarily affected the EchoStar 8 satellite.2 As a consequence, EchoStar had to move traffic

from EchoStar 8 to other satellite capacity. The problems caused by the SEU have been resolved

in part, and EchoStar has started to restore traffic on EchoStar 8. EchoStar has determined,

however, that additional tests of EchoStar 8’s health are necessary. To conduct these tests

without disrupting service to customers, it is necessary to be able to transfer traffic seamlessly to

another satellite at the same orbital location. The instant request is in response to this need.

       The Mexican concessionaire for the 77 W.L. orbital location has informed COFETEL,

and understands that COFETEL consents to the 30-day temporary operation of EchoStar 6 as a

U.S. satellite, subject to the eventual exchange of letters concerning the EchoStar 6 satellite.3

       Since the need for the EchoStar 8 tests is urgent, EchoStar respectfully requests verbal

action on this request today.

I.     BACKGROUND

       The nominal 77º W.L. orbital location is allotted to Mexico under the Region 2

Broadcasting-Satellite Service plan set forth in Appendices 30 and 30A to the international

Radio Regulations. EchoStar currently operates three Direct Broadcast Satellites (“DBS”) at the

nominal 77° W.L. orbital location under Mexican authority issued to its partner, QuetzSat, S. de

R.L. de C.V. (“QuetzSat”), EchoStar 1, EchoStar 4, and EchoStar 8. The satellites are used by

EchoStar’s customer DISH Network L.L.C. (“DISH”) and DISH Mexico to provide DBS service


       2
         As EchoStar stated to the Commission in a letter dated February 1, 2011, EchoStar
believes that the SEU, which occurred on January 30, 2011, did not cause any significant or
permanent damage that will affect EchoStar 8’s future operations. See Letter from Petra A.
Vorwig, Counsel for EchoStar Corporation, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, filed in File
No. SAT-T/C-20090217-00026 (Feb. 1, 2011).
       3
         EchoStar will soon file a modification application to allow the provision of service to
the United States (to the extent necessary) from EchoStar 6 located at 76.95 W.L. as a Mexican-
licensed satellite.



                                                -2-


in the United States and Mexico, respectively. The U.S. service includes local-into-local

programming in a number of markets in the southern United States.

       The spare capacity available at 77º W.L. is not enough to provide full “redundancy” for

EchoStar 8. As the Commission is aware, EchoStar 4 recently experienced transponder

anomalies, and is not currently operational.4 As for EchoStar 1, a satellite launched in December

1995, it has limited capability (only up to 16 transponders), and thus it, too, is inadequate to the

task of carrying the traffic necessary during EchoStar 8’s tests.

       For the reasons set forth herein, grant of this Application will not cause harmful

interference to any authorized user of the spectrum and will serve the public interest.

II.    GRANT OF THIS APPLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

       This application is in the public interest for the reasons set forth in the Satellite STA

Application, which are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, grant of this application

will ensure the safe transfer of EchoStar 6 to the 76.95 W.L. orbital location. Grant of this

application also will not cause harmful interference because EchoStar will operate the earth

stations to conduct TT&C operations for the relocation of the EchoStar 6 satellite to 76.95° W.L.

in accordance with the following conditions:


       1.      EchoStar shall coordinate all drift operations with other potentially affected in-
               orbit operators.

       2.      Drift operations shall be on a non-harmful interference basis, meaning that
               EchoStar shall not cause interference to, and shall not claim protection from,
               interference caused to it by any other lawfully operating satellites.

       3.      In the event that any harmful interference is caused as a result of relocation
               operations, EchoStar shall cease operations immediately upon notification of such

       4
         See Confidential Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos, Counsel for EchoStar Corporation
to Stephen Duall, IB, FCC, File Nos. SAT-STA-20100920-00199, SAT-STA-20100920-00198,
SAT-STA-20100920-00197 (Jan. 18, 2011).



                                                -3-


               interference and shall inform the Commission immediately, in writing, of such
               event.

       While EchoStar 6 is located at 76.95 W.L., EchoStar will operate the earth stations in

accordance with the following conditions:


       1.      Operations shall be on a non-harmful interference basis, meaning that EchoStar
               shall not cause interference to, and shall not claim protection from, interference
               caused to it by any other lawfully operating satellites operating within the
               parameters of applicable international coordination agreements.

       2.      In the event that any harmful interference is caused while the satellite is operating
               at 77° W.L., EchoStar shall cease operations immediately upon notification of
               such interference and shall inform the Commission immediately, in writing, of
               such event.


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 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.

IV.    CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, EchoStar respectfully requests the grant of its application for

emergency special temporary authority for 30 days to operate four transmit/receive earth stations

(Call Signs E980081, E070273, E980005, and E070014) to provide TT&C service in the DBS

band for EchoStar 6 as it is relocated from its current location at 61.65 W.L. to 76.95 W.L.




                                               -4-


                                   Respectfully submitted,



                                            /s/
Pantelis Michalopoulos              Alison Minea
Petra A. Vorwig                     Corporate Counsel
L. Lisa Sandoval                    EchoStar Corporation
Steptoe & Johnson LLP               1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 750
1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.       Washington, D.C. 20005
Washington, D.C. 20036              (202) 293-0981
(202) 429-3000
Counsel for EchoStar Corporation


February 4, 2011




                                    -5-



Document Created: 2011-02-04 17:32:06
Document Modified: 2011-02-04 17:32:06

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