Attachment SESSTA2017032100322.

SESSTA2017032100322.

DECISION submitted by FCC

GRANT

0000-00-00

This document pretains to SES-STA-20170321-00322 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2017032100322_1204194

E140121 SES—STA—20170321—00322 182017000793 Intelsat License LLC 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: Request for 30—Day STA Using Hagerstown, Maryland Earth Station E140121 to Provide LEOP Services for the SES—15 Satellite 1. Applicant Name: Intelsat License LLC Phone Number: 703—559—7848 DBA Name: Fax Number: T703—559—8539 Street: c/o Intelsat Corporation E—Mail: susan.crandall@intelsat.com 7900 Tysons One Place City: McLean State: VA Country: USA Zipcode: 22102 —3972 Attention: Susan H. Crandall Fil @E“S‘S_\Q'Q\B\*) 83\ ~O0MQ Call&n\ b\}\\ Grant Datefi ‘\ -7 (or other identifier) From: . *4 E‘ \—) GRANTED International Bureau

File #SNSSC—\Aekat &Q-BQA_D‘0B (%}\épg\ Grant Datc\\’fi:\n (or other identifier) Application: Intelsat License LLC \\ File No.: SES—STA—20170321—00322 GRANTED From:_~X~ Call Sign: E140121 International Bureau ./ Special Temporary Authority oc h B0 iiinitiirincimcmssa EDOYoi Intelsat License LLC is granted a special temporary authority for 30 days, under the following conditions, beginning April 4, 2017, to operate its 13.5 meter fixed earth station antenna in Hagerstown, Maryland, to provide launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) services for the SES—15 satellite (licensed by Luxemburg) on the following center frequencies: 13999.0 MHz, 14001.0 MHz, 14499.0 MHz, and 14501.0 MHz (Earth—to—space), and 10700.5 MHz and 12199.5 MHz (space—to—Earth). SES—15 is scheduled to launch on April 4, 2017. 1. Uplink (Earth—to—space) frequencies will be on 13999 MHz, 14001 MHz, 14499 MHz and 14501 MHz (V, H or LHCP) within the coordinated emission and power limits. The maximum EIRP shall not exceed 85 dBW per NTIA manual US 356. 2. Downlink (space—to—Earth) frequencies will be on 10700.50 MHz and 12199.50 MHz (V, H or LHCP). 3. The LEOP operations must be coordinated with all operators of satellites that use the same frequency bands and are in the LEOP path. 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. Currently the 24x7 contact information for the SES—15 satellite 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. 4. All operations shall be on an unprotected and non—harmful interference basis, Intelsat License LLC, E140121, 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. 5. In the event of any harmful interference under this grant of special temporary authority, Intelsat License LLC, E140121, must cease operations immediately upon notification of such interference, and must inform the Commission, in writing, immediately of such an event. 6. Grant of this authorization is without prejudice to any determination that the Commission may make regarding pending or future Intelsat License LLC applications. 7. This special temporary authority can only be used to provide launch and early orbit phase ("LEOP") services for the SES—15 satellite. 8. This action is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on delegated authority, 47 C.F.R. §0.261, and is effective immediately.

2. Contact Name: Cynthia J. Grady Phone Number: 703—559—6949 Company: Intelsat Corporation Fax Number: 703—559—8539 Street: 7900 Tysons One Place E—Mail: cynthia.grady@intelsat.com City: McLean State: VA Country: USA Zipcode: 22102 —5972 Attention: Relationship: Legal Counsel (If your application is related to an application filed with the Comumission, enter either the file number or the IB Submission ID of the related application. Please enter only one.) 3. Reference File Number 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 C Noncommercial educational licensee «43 Other(please explain): 4b. Fee Classification CGX — Fixed Satellite Transmit/Receive Earth Station 5. Type Request gy Use Prior to Grant £34 Change Station Location @ Other 6. Requested Use Prior Date 7. CityHagerstown 8. Latitude (dd mm ss.s h) 39 35 53.1 N

9. State MD 10. Longitude (dd mm ss.s h) 77 45 22.3 W 11. Please supply any need attachments. Attachment 1: STA Request Attachment 2: Exhibit A Attachment 3: Exhibit B 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.) Intelsat License LLC herein requests a grant of Special Temporary Authority for 30 days, commencing April 4, 2017, to use its Hagerstown, Maryland Ku—band earth station, call sign E140121, to provide launch and early orbit phase services for the SES—15 satellite. SES— 15 is expected to be launched on April 4, 2017. 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 "party to the application" for these purposes. 14. Name of Person Signing 15. Title of Person Signing Cynthia J. Grady Regulatory Counsel, Intelsat Corporation 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 burdenit 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 numberor if 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 A Intelsat License LLC Hagerstown, Maryland 13.5 Viasat 13.5 Meter Earth Station 1. Background This Exhibit is presented to demonstrate the extent to which the Intelsat License LLC ("Intelsat") satellite earth station in Hagerstown, Maryland is in compliance with the Federal Communications Commision ("FCC") Report and Order 96—377. The potential inteference from the earth station to U.S. Navy shipboard radiolocation operations ("RADAR") and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") space research activities in the 13.75—14.0 GHz band is addressed in this exhibit. The parameters for the earth station are: ' Coordinates (NAD83): 39° 35‘ 53.1" N, 77° 45‘ 22.3" W Satellite Location for Earth Station: SES—15 at 149°W to 6°W Frequency Band: 13.75—14.00 GHz Polarizations: Linear & Circular Emissions: 1MO0F2D * Modulation: FM/PCM/PSK Maximum Aggregate Uplink EIRP: 88.6dBW for all Carriers Transmit Antenna Characteristics Antenna Size: 13.5 Meters in Diameter Anenna Type/Model: 13.5 Viasat Gain: 64 dBi RF Power into Antenna Flange: 24.6 dBW or 0.6 dBW/4kHz Minimum Elevation Angle: 5.57° @ 257.89° Azimuth ( 5.42° @ 101.97° Azimuth Side Lobe Antenna Gain FCC Reference Pattern Because the above uplink spectrum is shared with the Federal Government, coordination in this band requires resolution data pertaining to potential interference between the earth stations and both U.S. Navy Department and NASA systems. Potential intefference from the earth station could impact the U.S. Navy and/or NASA systems in two areas. These areas are noted in GCC Report and Order 96—377 dated September 1996, and consist of (1) Radiolocation and Radio Navigation, (2) Data Relay Satellites. Summary of Coordination Issues: a.) Potential Impact to Government Radiolocation (Shipboard Radar) b.) Potential Impact to NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Systems ("TDRSS")

2. Potential Impact to Government Radiolocation (Shipboard Radar) Radiolocation operations ("RADAR") may occur anywhere in the 13.4—14.0 GHz frequency band aboard ocean—going U.S. Navy ships. FCC order 96—377 allocates the top 250MHz of this 600 MHz band to the Fixed Satellite Service ("FSS") on a co—primary basis with the radiolocation operations and provides for an interference protection level of —167 dBW/m*/4kHz. The closest distance to the shoreline from Hagerstown, Maryland earth station is approximately 131 km. The calculation of the power spectral density at this distance is given by: 1. Clear Sky EIRP: 88.6 dBw 2. Carrier Bandwidth: 1000 kHz 3. PD at antenna input: 0.6 dBW/4kHz 4. Transmit Antenna Gain: 64 dBi 5. Antenna Gain to Horizon: 10.4 dBi 6. Antenna Elevation Angles: 5.6° @ 257.9° azimuth 5.4° @ 102° azimuth The earth station will radiate interference toward the ocean according to its off—axis side—lobe performance. A conservative analysis, using FCC standard reference pattern, results in an off—axis antenna gain of 10.4 towards the nearest shoreline. The signal density at the shoreline, through free space is: PFD = Antenna Feed Power density (dBW/4kHz) + Antenna Off—Axis Gain (dBi) — Spread Loss (dBW/m*) = 0.6dBW/4kHz +10.4dBi — (10*log[4*PI*[131km]"2}) = —102.4 dBW/m/4kHz — Additional Path Losses (69 dB) Our calculation indicate additional path loss of approximately 69 dB including absorbtion loss and earth diffraction loss for the actual path profiles from the earth station to the nearest shoreline. The calculated PFD, including additional path losses to the closest shoreline, is —171.4dbW/ m*2/4 kHz. This is 4.4dB below the —167.0 dBW/ m4*2/4 kHz interference criteria of the R&O 96—377. Therefore, there should be no interference to the U.S. Navy RADAR from the Hagerstown, Maryland earth station due to the distance and the terrain blockage between the site and the shore. 3. Potential Impact to NASA‘s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System The geographic location of the Intelsat earth station in Hagerstown, Maryland is outside the 390 km radius coordination contour surrounding NASA‘s White Sands, New Mexico ground station complex. Therefore the TDRSS space—to—earth link will not be impacted by the Intelsat earth station in Hagerstown, Maryland.

The TDRSS space—to—space link in the 13.772 to 13.778 GHz band is assumed to be protected if an earth station produces and EIRP of less than 71 dBW/6MHz in this band. The 13.5 meter earth station antenna will not transmit in this band. Therefore, there will be no potential interference to the TDRSS space—to— space link. 4. Coordination Result Summary and Conclusions The results of the analysis and calculation performed in this exhibit indicate that compatible operation between the earth station at the Hagerstown, Maryland facility and U.S. Navy and NASA TDRSS space—to— earth and space—to—space links are possible. No interference to U.S. Navy RADAR or NASA TDRSS operations from the Hagerstown, Maryland site earth station should occur.

Exhibit B PETITION FOR WAIVER OF SECTION®S 25.137 AND 25.114 Pursuant to Section 25.137 of the Federal Communications Commission‘s ("Commission" or "FCC") rules, earth station applicants "requesting authority to operate with a non—U.S. licensed space station to serve the United States" must demonstrate that effective competitive opportunities exist and must provide the same technical information required by Section 25.114 for U.S.—licensed space stations.‘ Intelsat License LLC ("Intelsat") herein seeks authority to provide launch and early orbit phase ("LEOP") services—not commercial services—to the United States, and thus believes that Section 25.137 does not apply." To the extent the Commission determines, however, that Intelsat‘s request for authority to provide LEOP services on a special temporary basis is a request to serve the United States with a non U.S.—licensed satellite, Intelsat respectfully requests a waiver of Sections 25.137 and 25.114 of the Commission‘s rules." The Commission may grant a waiver for good cause shown.* The Commission typically grants a waiver where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest." In granting a waiver, the Commission may take into account considerations of hardship, equity, or ‘more effective implementation of overall policy on an individual basis.© Waiver is therefore appropriate if special cireumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule, and such a deviation will serve the public interest. In this case, good cause exists for a waiver of both Section 25.137 and Section 25.114. With respect to Section 25.114, Intelsat seeks authority only to provide LEOP services for the SES—15 satellite. The information sought by Section 25.114 is not relevant to LEOP services. Moreover, Intelsat does not have—and would not easily be able to obtain—such information because Intelsat is not the operator of the SES—15 satellite, nor is Intelsat in contractual privity with that operator. Rather, an affiliate of Intelsat has a contract with the Boeing, the manufacturer of the SES—15 satellite, to conduct LEOP services for the satellite. ! 47 C.F.R. § 25.137 (emphasis added). * See EchoStar Satellite Operating Company Application for Special Temporary Authority Related to Moving the EchoStar 6 Satellitefrom the 77° W.L. Orbital Location to the 96.2° W.L. Orbital Location, and to Operate at the 96.2° W.L. Orbital Location, DA 13—593, File No. SAT— STA—20130220—00023 (released Apr. 1, 2013) (noting that operating TT&C earth stations in the United States with a foreign—licensed satellite does not constitute "DBS service"). 347 C.F.R. §§ 25.137 and 25.114. *47 C.F.R. §1.3. * NE. Cellular Tel. Co. v. FCC, 897 F.24 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) ("Northeast Cellular®). * WAIT Radio v. FCC, 419 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.

~ The information that Intelsat is not including is not required to determine potential harmful interference. The Schedule S information for this satellite would pertain to the operation of the SES—15 satellite at its final orbital location. However, the present application for LEOP services involves communications prior to the satellite attaining its final location in the geostationary orbit. In other words, during the LEOP mission, the earth station will not be communicating with a satellite located in the geostationary orbit. Rather, it will be transmitting to a satellite traveling on its "transfer orbit" or "LEOP path," which starts immediately following its separation from a launch vehicle, and ends when the satellite reaches its geostationary orbital location. Moreover, as with any STA, Intelsat will perform the LEOP services on a non—interference basis. Because it is not relevant to the service for which Intelsat seeks authorization, and because obtaining the information would be a hardship, Intelsat seeks a waiver of all the information required by Section 25.114. Intelsat has provided in this STA request the required technical information that is relevant to the LEOP services for which Intelsat seeks authorization. Good cause also exists to waive Section 25.137. Section 25.137 is designed to ensure that "U.S.—licensed satellite systems have effective competitive opportunities to provide analogous services" in other countries. Here, there is no service being provided by the satellite; it is simply being placed in its orbital location after separating from the launch vehicle. Thus, the purpose of the information required by Section 25.137 is not implicated here. For example, Section 25.137(d) requires earth station applicants requesting authority to operate with a non—U.S.—licensed space station that is not in orbit and operating to post a bond."‘ The underlying purpose in having to post a bond—i.e., to prevent warehousing of orbital locations by operators seeking to serve the United States—would not be served by requiring Intelsat to post a bond in orderto provide approximately 180 days of LEOP services to the SES—15 satellite. It is Intelsat‘s understanding that SES—15 is licensed by Luxemburg, which is a WTO— member country. Thus, the purposes of Section 25.137—to ensure that U.S. satellite operators enjoy "effective competitive opportunities" to serve foreign markets and to prevent warehousing of orbital locations serving the United States—will not be undermined by grant of this waiver request. Finally, Intelsat notes that it expects to operate with the SES—15 satellite using its U.S. earth station for a period of approximately 180 days. Requiring Intelsat to obtain copious technical and legal information from an unrelated party, where there is no risk of harmful interference and the operations will cease after approximately 180 days, would pose undue hardship without serving underlying policy objectives. Given these particular facts, the waiver sought herein is plainly appropriate. ! See 47 C.F.R. §25.137(d)(4).

Ms. Marlene H. Dortch March 21, 2017 Page 2 In further support of this request, Intelsat herewith attaches Exhibits A and B, which contain a 13 GHz report and a waiver request. 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 SES—15 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 SES—15 satellite. This, in turn, will help provide additional capacity from the 129° 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, Cyarts» . qh aol Cynthia J. Grady Regulatory Counsel Intelsat Corporation cc: Paul Blais


Document Created: 2017-04-06 18:28:07
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 18:28:07
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