Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matters of ) ) Intelsat North America LLC ) File No. SAT-STA-20061102-00128 ) Call Sign: S2392 Application for Special Temporary Authority ) Concerning the Relocation of Intelsat 601 to the ) 47.5º W.L. Orbital Location ) ORDER Adopted: October 31, 2007 Released: October 31, 2007 By the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau: 1. In this Order, we grant the request for special temporary authority filed by Intelsat North America LLC (Intelsat) insofar as it seeks authority to transfer control of Intelsat 601 to Europe*Star Gesellschaft Fur Satellitenkommunikation mbH (Europe*Star)1 in connection with the operation of the satellite at the 47.5º E.L. orbital location, where it would operate under authorization of Germany’s Bundesnetzagentur fur Elektrizitat, Gas, Telekommunikation, Post und Eisenbahnen (BNetzA). We previously authorized tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) operations necessary to relocate Intelsat 601 to the 47.5º E.L. orbital location, but reserved for later action a decision on any change in the status of the United States as the Internantional Telecommunication Union (ITU) notifying administration associated with this satellite. By this action we conclude that transfer of control of the Intelsat 601 space station to Europe*Star, and operations pursuant to the BNetzA authorization, would serve the public interest. 2. Intelsat filed its application for special temporary authority on November 2, 2006. In a letter dated January 5, 2007, the International Bureau, Satellite Division, requested additional information. Intelsat responsed on January 22, 2007. The application was placed on public notice on January 26, 2007,2 and no comments were received. On June 6, July 2, July 11, and September 12, 2007, Intelsat submitted additional supporting information, including information concerning regulatory developments related to its proposed operations. On September 27, 2007, we authorized TT&C operations necessary to relocate the satellite from its licensed location at at the 63.65º E.L. orbital location.3 3. Intelsat anticipates that the Intelsat 601 satellite will be able to operate in inclined orbit at the 47.5º E.L. orbital location until 2011. Operations at the location would make additional capacity available for Intelsat and its customers, including U.S. customers. Information Intelsat submitted indicates that German filings at the ITU, which would be used in connection with Intelsat 601’s 1 Europe*Star is 51 percent owned by PanAmSat Europe Corporation, a Delaware company that is wholly owned by Intelsat Corporation (f/k/a PanAmSat Corporation). 2 Report No. SAT-00415. 3 Intelsat 601 was operated at the 63.65º E.L. orbital location in conjunction with the Intelsat 906 satellite, licensed at the 64.15º E.L. Operations of this satellite are unaffected by this action, and, accordingly, there is no impact on the Intelsat “Common Heritage” at the 64º E.L. orbital location, nor does this matter implicate Section 644(b) of the ORBIT Act. Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 2 operations, are at an advanced stage of coordination. Given the limited and relatively short term operations of the satellite, we conclude that pursuit of a U.S. ITU filing for its operations at this location would be unnecessarily duplicative of coordination efforts already undertaken. We therefore conclude that a favorable action on Intelsat’s request is in the public interest. 4. We have exchanged letters with BNetzA in order to ensure that there is a mutual understanding regarding the operation of the Intelsat 601 satellite. The understandings, and the factual background for these understandings, are provided as Annex A and are material considerations for the authorization contained in this Order. 5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that Intelsat North America LLC’s application, File No. SAT-STA-20061102-00128 (Call Sign S2392), IS GRANTED, and Intelsat North America LLC is authorized to transfer control of Intelsat 601 to Europe*Star Gesellschaft Fur Satellitenkommunikation mbH, effective upon release of this Order. 6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that Intelsat North America LLC’s authorization for operation of Intelsat 601 at the 63.65º E.L. orbital location, IS TERMINATED, effective upon completion of maneuvers required to place the satellite at the 47.5º E.L. orbital location. Intelsat North America LLC shall notify the FCC of completion of such maneuvers through an entry in the International Bureau Filing System, tendering its license for surrender, with two business days after completion of such maneuvers. 7. This Order is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §0.261. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Robert G. Nelson Chief, Satellite Division International Bureau Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 3 Appendix A Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 5 Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 6 Federal Communications Commission DA 07-4482 7