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File pnmc5021 (.txt & .wp) is in directory \pub\Public_Notices\Miscellaneous. ************************************************************************* DA 96-1499 Before the Feder al Communications Commission Washi ngton, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of) ) AT&T CORP. ) File Nos. 54-SAT-ML-95 ) 80-SAT-ML-96 Application for Modification of ) 81-SAT-STA-96 the TELSTAR 303 Domestic Fixed- ) 142-SAT-STA-96 Satellite ) ORDER AND AUTHORIZATION Adopted: September 3, 1996 Released: September 4, 1996 By the Chief, International Bureau: 1. By this Order we grant AT&T Corp an extension of the license term for its TELSTAR 303 satellite, reassign it to another orbital location, and allow it to operate in an inclined orbit mode. Grant of this request allows AT&T to continue to provide service and back-up protection to its customers prior to the launch and operation of TELSTAR 5, the planned replacement for TELSTAR 303. 2. AT&T filed an application on February 1, 1995, to (1) extend TELSTAR 303's license term through December 1997, (2) operate the satellite in an inclined orbit mode, and (3) reassign it from 123o W.L. to the 120o W.L. orbital position. Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. (HCG) filed comments. For the reasons discussed below we grant AT&T's modification request. 3. The C-band TELSTAR 303 satellite was launched and began service in August 1985. Its ten year license term expired on August 7, 1995. TELSTAR 303 is currently operating in an inclined orbit mode at 120o W.L. under special temporary authority. AT&T requests permission to continue operating in this manner. AT&T asserts that grant of its application will help meet the service needs of its customers until they can be smoothly transitioned to TELSTAR 5, which it plans to launch in 1997. It states that the operational life of TELSTAR 303 will extend long enough for this transition to occur. 4. AT&T maintains that operation of TELSTAR 303 in an inclined orbit at 120o W.L. will not adversely affect the operation of adjacent satellites. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has determined that the use of an inclined geosynchronous satellite orbit does not affect a satellite's interference potential with other satellites. The 120o W.L. C-band orbit location, however, falls within that portion of the arc subject to a U.S.- Mexico-Canada trilateral arrangement and requires coordination with Mexico and Canada. That arrangement assigns the 118.7o W.L. orbital location to Canada, although Canada is not operating a satellite there, and the 116.8o W.L. orbital location to Mexico. 5. Canada and Mexico do not object to TELSTAR 303's relocation provided that its operations at 120o W.L. are temporary only and do not adversely impact operations of their satellites. Canada, however, requests that we require AT&T to move TELSTAR 303 to another location or take other appropriate action to ensure that it does not cause unacceptable interference, in the event Canada implements a C-band satellite at 118.7o W.L., which would place it only 1.3o away from TELSTAR 303. We are conditioning AT&T's authorization accordingly. We emphasize that the use of the 120o W.L. orbital position by a U.S. licensed satellite operator is temporary only and that this accommodation does not represent a modification of the U.S.- Mexico-Canada trilateral arrangement or a change in our policy in regards to it. 6. Therefore, we find that grant of AT&T's request to operate TELSTAR 303 in an inclined orbit mode at 120o W.L. and modify its license to extend operational authority through December 31, 1997, subject to the conditions below, will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. 7. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules on delegations of authority, 47 C.F.R.  0.261, application file numbers 54-SAT-ML-95 and 80-SAT-ML-96 ARE GRANTED and AT&T Corp IS AUTHORIZED to operate the TELSTAR 303 satellite at the 120o W.L. orbital position in an inclined orbit mode. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, as a condition to authority to operate the TELSTAR 303 satellite, AT&T Corp.: (a) is required to either terminate operations of TELSTAR 303 or take other appropriate action to ensure that there is no unacceptable interference to any Canadian C-band satellite at this orbital location, if a Canadian C-band satellite is positioned at 118.7o W.L.; (b) will take appropriate action to ensure that any Mexican licensed satellite at 116.8o W.L., currently the MORELOS II satellite, will not be subject to any unacceptable interference from TELSTAR 303; (c) will not claim protection from any unacceptable interference of Canadian or Mexican satellite operations from 118.7o W.L. or 116.8o W.L.; (d) shall periodically correct the satellite attitude to achieve a stationary spacecraft antenna pattern on the surface of the Earth and centered on the satellite's designated service area; (e) shall control all interference to adjacent satellites as a result of operating in an inclined orbit mode, to levels not to exceed that which would be caused by the satellite network operating without an inclined orbit; (f) cannot claim protection in excess of the protection that would be received by the satellite network operating without an inclined orbit; (g) shall continue to maintain the space station at the authorized longitude orbital location in the geostationary satellite arc with the appropriate east-west station-keeping tolerance. 9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this authorization will expire on December 31, 1997 or at the time AT&T Corp begins commercial operation of, and transfers its TELSTAR 303 traffic to its replacement, TELSTAR 5, whichever occurs sooner. 10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that AT&T Corp shall immediately inform the Commission when commercial operation of TELSTAR 5 has begun. 11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the assignment of any orbital location to AT&T Corp is subject to change by summary order of the Commission on 30 days notice and does not confer any permanent right to use of the orbit and spectrum. Neither this authorization, nor any right granted by this authorization, shall be transferred to any person except upon application to the Commission and upon a finding by the Commission that the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served thereby. 12. AT&T Corp is afforded thirty days from the release of this order to decline this authorization as conditioned. Failure to respond within that period will constitute formal acceptance of the authorization as conditioned. 13. This order is issued under Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules and is effective upon adoption. Petitions for reconsideration under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission's rules may be filed within 30 days of the date of the public notice of this order (see Section 1.4(b)(2)). 14. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order is effective upon adoption. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Donald H. Gips Chief, International Bureau