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Our nine-step satellite spectrum management process helps to make satellite earth station design easy to understand and implement. Whether you follow the entire process or utilize only a few steps, you have easy access to the information and services you need to reach your ultimate goal: a fully operational and interference-free satellite earth station.
- Band Information
- Site Selection
- Equipment Selection
- Interference Analysis
- Field Verification
- Frequency Coordination
- Licensing
- Interference Protection
- Installation & Construction
- Band Information: Select a frequency band.
Selecting the right frequency band is critical to the technical specifications and financial ramifications of your system design. Technical specifications impact available transponder space and reliability. You need to understand the requirements and pending regulatory proceedings that could limit or prohibit the use of a frequency band.
Solution:
To view technical and regulatory information about frequency bands allocated for satellite earth station use BandLocator.
- Site Selection: Identify potential barriers that may affect your site decision.
The site selection process determines specifically where antennas will be located. Site procurement may include purchasing or leasing land, leasing space on a building, and/or identification of teleport facilities. There are many site acquisition firms that specialize in site procurement for telecommunications facilities.
Locate a Site Acquisition Company:
To search for site acquisition companies please use VendorLocator.
Engineering Considerations:
There are several engineering considerations that must be taken into account when selecting a site. These may include:
- Location of terrestrial microwave systems that share the band
In a highly congested area, it may be necessary to view a route overlay or plot of existing terrestrial microwave paths in a particular band and geographic area. You may have to select your earth station location to avoid existing microwave systems.
- Satellite look angle
Calculate the satellite look angle to verify line-of-sight conditions to the desired satellite(s) from the proposed earth station location. Use our Satellite Look Angle Calculator
- Earth station RF radiation hazard limits
Every transmit-only and transmit-receive earth station site must meet FCC-specified radiation hazard limits.
- Equipment Selection: Locate antenna and radio manufacturers.
After you choose the frequency band and sites, select antenna and radio equipment to be used on your path. You need to understand the equipment to determine system reliability and performance.
Solution:
- VendorLocator
- Interference Analysis: Identify potential interference problems in your frequency band.
You need an interference analysis to determine the existence of any potential interference conflicts in the shared uplink and downlink bands of your proposed antenna. It is based on the coordinates and operational parameters of a proposed earth station antenna. It will identify the direction and potential interference margins of all cases within the coordination contours of the earth station. It will also determine whether sufficient spectrum is available for the uplink and downlink bands of the proposed antenna.
Comsearch's Earth Station Frequency Coordination provides interference analysis.
- Field Verification: Identify or resolve potential interference cases with field measurements.
Three kinds of field verification may be needed when you design your earth station system.
- Receive-Only (RO) Earth Station Measurements verify and then identify workarounds for predetermined sources of interference into an earth station.
- Transmit-Only (TO) Earth Station Measurements verify and then identify workarounds for predetermined sources of interference from an earth station into terrestrial microwave.
- Transmit/Receive Earth Station Measurements perform both TO and RO Earth Station Measurements as required.
- Frequency Coordination: FCC requirements for notification and operation without causing interference.
Satellite Earth Station Coordination Request Form
Frequency coordination is required by the FCC and begins when the system design is complete. An interference analysis is performed to determine frequencies that will not cause harmful interference to other existing and proposed microwave paths and earth stations in a particular band.
After frequencies are selected, a Prior Coordination Notice (PCN), including a system data sheet, must be sent to all existing microwave users in the area to notify them of the proposed earth station. The FCC rules state that the existing users have 30 days to object to the proposal. Once the 30-day period expires and any objections are resolved, a supplemental showing must be included with your FCC license application.
To learn more about the frequency coordination process, you can download a white paper, Fundamentals of Earth Station Frequency Coordination.
Comsearch's Satellite Frequency Engineering Services provide frequency coordination.
- Licensing: File FCC Form 312. Locate a telecom attorney.
After you complete the frequency coordination process, you must submit an application for operation to the FCC. All satellite earth station systems are required to complete and submit FCC Form 312 to the FCC. This form must be accompanied by a supplemental showing indicating that the frequency coordination process has been completed. Once the application is filed, the FCC puts it on Public Notice for 30 days for the public to comment. If there is no objection and the application meets all FCC filing requirements, the FCC grants the application.
Comsearch offers FCC Form 312 Filing Services. You may also download FCC Form 312.
Other Licensing Considerations
The licensee is responsible for maintaining license records with the FCC after the license is granted. You must notify the FCC of any address or other administrative changes to your system. You must track when a license is due for renewal and submit a timely renewal application. The current renewal period is fifteen years.
Locate Attorneys:
To search for attorneys please use VendorLocator.
- Interference Protection: Protect your licensed system from future interference.
The FCC requires licensees to review and comment upon or object to proposed changes to systems that might interfere with another licensee's existing area and frequency band. With the multitude of filings and proposed changes to systems, this has become time-consuming. Many companies retain a technical agent to manage this regulatory compliance process, ensuring that your system will not be interfered with by new or modified systems.
Comsearch's Protection service reviews, analyzes and responds to other carriers' coordination notices and filings, and protects proposed, applied and licensed frequencies from interference. We research systems and clearances and answer technical or procedural questions. We handle standard case resolution without having to get you involved.
Learn more about Comsearch's Interference Protection Services.
- Installation & Construction: Find a company to help with the installation and construction of your system.
After you file the application with the FCC, you may begin the construction phase. The FCC will not allow operation of the antenna until the formal license is granted. Requests for operation authority prior to the grant of the formal license, called a Special Temporary Authority (STA), can be made to the FCC, but will be granted only to those users who demonstrate special need.
Comsearch offers turnkey EF&I (Engineer Furnish and Install) solutions for satellite communications systems.
Additional Considerations
Once the FCC grants you a license, you must complete the earth station construction and bring the station into regular operation within 12 months from the date of the license grant. Pursuant to Part 25.133(b), each licensee must file with the commission a certification that includes the following information:
- name of licensee
- file number of the application
- call sign of the antenna
- date of license
- certification that construction of the facility as authorized has been completed
- certification that each antenna facility has been tested and is within 2 dB of the pattern specified in Part 25.209
- certification that the station is operational, including the date of commencement of service
- certification that the station will remain operational during the license period unless the license is submitted for cancellation
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