§  25.264   Requirements to facilitate reverse-band operation in the
17.3-17.8 GHz band of 17/24 GHz Broadcasting-satellite Service and Direct
Broadcast Satellite Service space stations.

   (a) Each applicant for a space station license in the 17/24 GHz
   broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) must provide a series of tables or
   graphs with its application, that contain the predicted transmitting
   antenna off-axis gain information for each transmitting antenna in the
   17.3-17.8 GHz frequency band. Using a Cartesian coordinate system
   wherein the X axis is tangent to the geostationary orbital arc with the
   positive direction pointing east, i.e. , in the direction of travel of
   the satellite; the Y axis is parallel to a line passing through the
   geographic north and south poles of the Earth, with the positive
   direction pointing south; and the Z axis passes through the satellite
   and the center of the Earth, with the positive direction pointing
   toward the Earth, the applicant must provide the predicted transmitting
   antenna off-axis antenna gain information:

   (1) In the X-Z plane, i.e. , the plane of the geostationary orbit, over
   a range of +-30 degrees from the positive and negative X axes in
   increments of 5 degrees or less.

   (2) In planes rotated from the X-Z plane about the Z axis, over a range
   of +-60 degrees relative to the equatorial plane, in increments of 10
   degrees or less.

   (3) In both polarizations.

   (4) At a minimum of three measurement frequencies determined with
   respect to the entire portion of the 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency band over
   which the space station is designed to transmit: 5 MHz above the lower
   edge of the band; at the band center frequency; and 5 MHz below the
   upper edge of the band.

   (5) Over a greater angular measurement range, if necessary, to account
   for any planned spacecraft orientation bias or change in operating
   orientation relative to the reference coordinate system. The applicant
   must also explain its reasons for doing so.

   (b) Each applicant for a space station license in the 17/24 GHz BSS
   must provide power flux density (pfd) calculations with its application
   that are based upon the predicted off-axis transmitting antenna gain
   information submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section,
   as follows:

   (1) The pfd calculations must be provided at the location of all
   prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations where the applicant's pfd level
   exceeds the coordination trigger of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz in the
   17.3-17.8 GHz band. In this rule, the term prior-filed U.S. DBS space
   station refers to any Direct Broadcast Satellite service space station
   application that was filed with the Commission (or authorization
   granted by the Commission) prior to the filing of the 17/24 GHz BSS
   application containing the predicted off-axis transmitting antenna gain
   information. The term prior-filed U.S. DBS space station does not
   include any applications (or authorizations) that have been denied,
   dismissed, or are otherwise no longer valid. Prior-filed U.S. DBS space
   stations may include foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking
   authority to serve the United States market, but do not include
   foreign-licensed DBS space stations that have not filed applications
   with the Commission for market access in the United States.

   (2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum permitted
   longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital
   eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and
   must:

   (i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose location
   the coordination threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz is
   exceeded; and

   (ii) Demonstrate the extent to which the applicant's transmissions in
   the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2
   /100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station locations.

   (3) If the calculated pfd level is in excess of the threshold level of
   -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz at the location of any prior-filed U.S. DBS space
   station, the applicant must also provide with its application
   certification that all affected DBS operators acknowledge and do not
   object to the applicants higher off-axis pfd levels. No such
   certification is required in cases where the DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS
   assigned operating frequencies do not overlap.

   (c) No later than 9 months prior to launch, each 17/24 GHz BSS space
   station applicant or authorization holder must confirm the predicted
   transmitting antenna off-axis gain information provided in accordance
   with §  25.114(d)(15)(iv) by submitting measured transmitting antenna
   off-axis gain information over the angular ranges, measurement
   frequencies and polarizations described in paragraphs (a)(1) through
   (5) of this section. The transmitting antenna off-axis gain information
   should be measured under conditions as close to flight configuration as
   possible.

   (d) No later than 9 months prior to launch, each 17/24 GHz BSS space
   station applicant or authorization holder must provide pfd calculations
   based upon the measured transmitting antenna off-axis gain information
   that is submitted in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section as
   follows:

   (1) The pfd calculations must be provided:

   (i) At the location of all prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations as
   defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, where the applicant's pfd
   level in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceeds the coordination trigger of
   -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz; and

   (ii) At the location of any subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station
   where the applicant's pfd level in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceeds the
   coordination trigger of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz. In this rule, the term
   subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station refers to any Direct
   Broadcast Satellite service space station application that was filed
   with the Commission (or authorization granted by the Commission) after
   the 17/24 GHz BSS operator submitted the predicted data required by
   paragraphs (a) through (b) of this section, but prior to the time the
   17/24 GHz BSS operator submitted the measured data required in this
   paragraph. Subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space stations may include
   foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking authority to serve the
   United States market. The term does not include any applications (or
   authorizations) that have been denied, dismissed, or are otherwise no
   longer valid, nor does it include foreign-licensed DBS space stations
   that have not filed applications with the Commission for market access
   in the United States.

   (2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum permitted
   longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital
   eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and
   must:

   (i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose location
   the coordination threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz is
   exceeded; and

   (ii) Demonstrate the extent to which the applicant's or licensee's
   transmissions in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level
   of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station
   locations.

   (e) If the pfd level calculated from the measured data submitted in
   accordance with paragraph (d) of this section is in excess of the
   threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz:

   (1) At the location of any prior-filed U.S. DBS space station as
   defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, then the 17/24 GHz
   broadcasting-satellite operator must either:

   (i) Coordinate its operations that are in excess of the threshold pfd
   level of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz with the affected prior-filed U.S. DBS
   space station operator, or

   (ii) Adjust its operating parameters so that at the location of the
   prior-filed U.S. DBS space station, the pfd level of -117 dBW/m2 /100
   kHz is not exceeded.

   (2) At the location of any subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station as
   defined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, where the pfd level
   submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, is also in
   excess of the pfd level calculated on the basis of the predicted data
   submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section that were on
   file with the Commission at the time the DBS space station application
   was filed, then the 17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite operator must
   either:

   (i) Coordinate with the affected subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space
   station operator all of its operations that are either in excess of the
   pfd level calculated on the basis of the predicted antenna off-axis
   gain data, or are in excess of the threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2
   /100 kHz, whichever is greater, or

   (ii) Adjust its operating parameters so that at the location of the
   subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station, either the pfd level
   calculated on the basis of the predicted off-axis transmitting antenna
   gain data, or the threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m2 /100 kHz,
   whichever is greater, is not exceeded.

   (3) No coordination or adjustment of operating parameters is required
   in cases where the DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS operating frequencies do not
   overlap.

   (f) The 17/24 GHz BSS applicant or licensee must modify its license, or
   amend its application, as appropriate, based upon new information:

   (1) If the pfd levels submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of
   this section, are in excess of those submitted in accordance with
   paragraph (b) of this section at the location of any prior-filed or
   subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station as defined in paragraphs
   (b)(1) and (d)(1)of this section, or

   (2) If the 17/24 GHz BSS operator adjusts its operating parameters in
   accordance with paragraphs (e)(1)(ii) or (e)(2)(ii) or this section.

   (g) Absent an explicit agreement between operators to permit more
   closely spaced operations, U.S. authorized 17/24 GHz BSS space stations
   and U.S. authorized DBS space stations with co-frequency assignments
   may not be licensed to operate at locations separated by less than 0.2
   degrees in orbital longitude.

   (h) All operational 17/24 GHz BSS space stations must be maintained in
   geostationary orbits that:

   (1) Do not exceed 0.075DEG of inclination.

   (2) Operate with an apogee less than or equal to 35,806 km above the
   surface of the Earth, and with a perigee greater than or equal to
   35,766 km above the surface of the Earth ( i.e. , an eccentricity of
   less than 4.7 * 10 -4 ).

   (i) U.S. authorized DBS networks may claim protection from space path
   interference arising from the reverse-band operations of U.S.
   authorized 17/24 GHz BSS networks to the extent that the DBS space
   station operates within the bounds of inclination and eccentricity
   listed below. When the geostationary orbit of the DBS space station
   exceeds these bounds on inclination and eccentricity, it may not claim
   protection from any additional space path interference arising as a
   result of its inclined or eccentric operations and may only claim
   protection as if it were operating within the bounds listed below:

   (1) The DBS space station's orbit does not exceed 0.075DEG of
   inclination, and

   (2) The DBS space station's orbit maintains an apogee less than or
   equal to 35,806 km above the surface of the Earth, and a perigee
   greater than or equal to 35,766 km above the surface of the Earth (
   i.e., an eccentricity of less than 4.7 * 10 -4 ).

   [ 76 FR 50431 , Aug. 15, 2011]

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