Chris Blount
01-27-04, 07:13 AM
SES Americom responded to DirecTV's moves at the Federal Communications Commission concerning the placement of DBS satellites at closer orbital locations.
DirecTV has argued for close scrutiny and a FCC rulemaking on any changes to the current nine-degree separation between DBS satellite locations. In its comments on the issue, SES Americom said DirecTV "ignores the fact that the DBS frequency bands at issue are internationally-placed bands."
SES said that within the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and FCC framework, there really is no "nine-degree policy." And procedures already in place provide for coordination of new DBS satellites with potentially affected systems.
"The ITU criteria and coordination procedures for DBS systems - already incorporated in the commission rules - should continue to be used to address the technical feasibility of, and to implement, reduced spacing," SES said in its comments. "The commission has held that these procedures ensure adequate protection of existing systems, while permitting new entry."
From a technical perspective, reduced orbital spacing is feasible in many circumstances, SES said. "A variety of techniques can be used to permit operation of the new satellite while providing adequate protection to existing systems," the company said.
SES wants to place a satellite that could be used for satellite TV services between full-CONUS locations at 105 degrees. DirecTV has its core DBS satellite location at 101 degrees, and operates a satellite at 110 degrees, an orbital slot also extensively used by EchoStar. (DirecTV's comments on the issue appeared Monday, and can be found at: http://www.skyreport.com/viewskyreport.cfm?ReleaseID=1302.)
http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)
DirecTV has argued for close scrutiny and a FCC rulemaking on any changes to the current nine-degree separation between DBS satellite locations. In its comments on the issue, SES Americom said DirecTV "ignores the fact that the DBS frequency bands at issue are internationally-placed bands."
SES said that within the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and FCC framework, there really is no "nine-degree policy." And procedures already in place provide for coordination of new DBS satellites with potentially affected systems.
"The ITU criteria and coordination procedures for DBS systems - already incorporated in the commission rules - should continue to be used to address the technical feasibility of, and to implement, reduced spacing," SES said in its comments. "The commission has held that these procedures ensure adequate protection of existing systems, while permitting new entry."
From a technical perspective, reduced orbital spacing is feasible in many circumstances, SES said. "A variety of techniques can be used to permit operation of the new satellite while providing adequate protection to existing systems," the company said.
SES wants to place a satellite that could be used for satellite TV services between full-CONUS locations at 105 degrees. DirecTV has its core DBS satellite location at 101 degrees, and operates a satellite at 110 degrees, an orbital slot also extensively used by EchoStar. (DirecTV's comments on the issue appeared Monday, and can be found at: http://www.skyreport.com/viewskyreport.cfm?ReleaseID=1302.)
http://www.skyreport.com (Used with permission)