HornHonker
2005-12-27, 02:42 AM
In an order released Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission nullified an auction for DBS spectrum held in 2004, a move tied to a challenge Northpoint Technology raised in court concerning the spectrum allocation.
In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., found in favor of Northpoint in determining the DBS spectrum auction was unauthorized. Northpoint had for years worked to gain access to DBS spectrum for a planned terrestrial service that would share the frequencies with DBS services. Satellite TV interests vigorously fought the spectrum-sharing proposal, fretting about interference to small dish services.
The two auction winners, EchoStar and Rainbow DBS, won three DBS licenses in the 2004 auction. Rainbow DBS won a license to operate three channels at the 175-degree orbital location and another to operate 32 channels at 166 degrees. EchoStar won a license to operate on 29 channels at the 157-degree orbital location.
Also, due to the court challenge, the FCC froze all applications for new DBS authorizations to use the 12.2-12.7 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17.3- 17.8 GHz band pending further consideration of its rules. The freeze is limited to applications for licenses for new space stations or requests for market access by foreign-licensed space stations, and does not apply to applications for replacement satellites, modifications to existing satellite licenses, or requests for special temporary authority.
As of press time, there was no comment from EchoStar.
From SkyReports.com
In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., found in favor of Northpoint in determining the DBS spectrum auction was unauthorized. Northpoint had for years worked to gain access to DBS spectrum for a planned terrestrial service that would share the frequencies with DBS services. Satellite TV interests vigorously fought the spectrum-sharing proposal, fretting about interference to small dish services.
The two auction winners, EchoStar and Rainbow DBS, won three DBS licenses in the 2004 auction. Rainbow DBS won a license to operate three channels at the 175-degree orbital location and another to operate 32 channels at 166 degrees. EchoStar won a license to operate on 29 channels at the 157-degree orbital location.
Also, due to the court challenge, the FCC froze all applications for new DBS authorizations to use the 12.2-12.7 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17.3- 17.8 GHz band pending further consideration of its rules. The freeze is limited to applications for licenses for new space stations or requests for market access by foreign-licensed space stations, and does not apply to applications for replacement satellites, modifications to existing satellite licenses, or requests for special temporary authority.
As of press time, there was no comment from EchoStar.
From SkyReports.com