Attachment STA Request

This document pretains to SES-STA-20150203-00053 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2015020300053_1075809

February 3, 2015

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

          Re:      Request for Special Temporary Authority
                   Castle Rock, Colorado Earth Station E040174

Dear Ms. Dortch:

Intelsat License LLC (“Intelsat”) herein requests a grant of Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) 1 for
180 days, commencing upon grant, to use its Castle Rock C-band earth station—call sign E040174—to
provide launch and early orbit phase (“LEOP”) services for the ABS-3A satellite.2 ABS-3A is expected
to be launched no earlier than February 27, 2015. The LEOP period is expected to last approximately
240 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 Exhibit A and B, the Prior Coordination
Notice and a waiver request. Intelsat will provide technical information demonstrating that the

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
February 3, 2015
Page 2


operation of the earth station will be compatible with its electromagnetic environment and will not cause
harmful interference into any lawfully operating terrestrial facility prior to launch. 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. 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.

Finally, Intelsat clarifies that during the ABS—3A LEOP mission, Boeing will serve as the mission
manager. 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: 2015-02-03 14:32:42
Document Modified: 2015-02-03 14:32:42

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