Attachment STA Request

This document pretains to SES-STA-20141216-00901 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2014121600901_1071347

December 16, 2014

Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

          Re:      Request for Special Temporary Authority
                   Fillmore, California Earth Station E4132

Dear Ms. Dortch:

Intelsat License LLC (“Intelsat”) herein requests a grant of Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) 1 for
180 days, commencing February 1, 2015, to use its Fillmore, California C-band earth station—call sign
E4132—to provide launch and early orbit phase (“LEOP”) services for the ABS-3A satellite. ABS-3A
is expected to be launched no earlier than February 1, 2015.2 The LEOP period is expected to last
approximately 160 days.3

The ABS-3A LEOP operations will be performed in the following frequency bands: 6020.00 MHz and
6025.00 MHz in the uplink (LHCP), and 4194.5 MHz and 4197.0 MHz in the downlink (LHCP). The
LEOP operations will be coordinated with all operators of satellites that use the same frequency bands
and are in the LEOP path. 4 All operators of satellites in that path will be provided with an emergency
phone number where the licensee can be reached in the event that harmful interference occurs.

The 24x7 contact information for the ABS-3A LEOP mission is as follows:

Ph.:      (703) 559-7701 – East Coast Operations Center (primary)
          (310) 525-5591 – West Coast Operations Center (back-up)

Request to speak with Harry Burnham or Kevin Bell.

In further support of this request, Intelsat hereby attaches Exhibits A and B, which contain technical
information that demonstrates that the operation of the earth station will be compatible with its

1
  Intelsat has filed its STA request, an FCC Form 159, a $195.00 filing fee, and this supporting letter
electronically via the International Bureau’s Filing System (“IBFS”).
2
 The permanent orbital location for ABS-3A, which Intelsat understands is licensed by Papua New Guinea, will
be at 3° W.L. The in-orbit testing location will be 3° W.L.
3
  Intelsat is seeking authority for 180 days to accommodate the longer orbit-raising time period required for an
electric propulsion satellite.
4
    Intelsat will handle the coordination.


Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
December 16, 2014
Page 2


electromagnetic environment and will not cause harmfulinterference into any lawfully operating
terrestrial facility, as well as a waiver request. Intelsat also notes that for purposes of the ABS—3A
LEOP mission, it is seeking to operate in the frequencies listed in the request at power levels not to
exceed 25.5 dBW. The technical information submitted with this STA request reflects a power level as
high as 34.2 dBW because Intelsat might operate at this level in the event an emergency necessitates the
use of a higher power level in order to command the satellite. In the extremely unlikely event that
harmful interference should occur due to transmissions to or from its earth station, Intelsat will take all
reasonable steps to eliminate the interference.

Finally, Intelsat clarifies that during the ABS—3A LEOP mission, Boeing will control the spacecraft.
Boeing will build and send the commands to the Intelsat antenna, which will process and execute the
commands. Telemetry received by Intelsat will be forwarded to Boeing. Intelsat will perform the
ranging sessions by sending a tone to the spacecraft periodically. Intelsat will remain in control of the
baseband unit, RF equipment, and antenna.

Grant of this STA request will allow Intelsat to help launch the ABS—3A satellite. This, in turn, will
result in the provision of VSAT, TV distribution, IP trunking, cellular backhaul, and maritime services
from the 3° W.L. orbital location and thereby promotes the public interest.

Please direct any questions regarding this STA request to the undersigned at (703) 559—6949.

Respectfully submitted,




Cynthia J. Grady
Regulatory Counsel
Intelsat Corporation




ce: Paul Blais



Document Created: 2014-12-16 17:04:53
Document Modified: 2014-12-16 17:04:53

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