Federal Communications Commission DA 08-538 
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Star One, S.A.
Petition for Modification of Declaratory Ruling 
That Added the Star One C5 Satellite to the 
Permitted Space Station List
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IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20080304-00057
Call Sign S2742
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Adopted:  March 7, 2008 Released:  March 7, 2008
By the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau:
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In this Order, we deny Star One S.A.'s (Star One's) application for a one-week extension of 
time in which to post the required $3 million bond for the Star One C5 satellite.  Star One has not 
provided any unique or unusual circumstances to warrant an extension.  Consequently, if Star One does 
not post a $3 million bond for the Star One C5 satellite on or before March 10, 2008, we will remove Star 
One C5 from the Commission's Permitted List.  This will preclude the Star One C5 satellite from 
providing service in the United States.  Dismissal would be without prejudice to refiling.  
II. BACKGROUND
2. On Thursday, February 7, 2008, the International Bureau granted a petition for declaratory 
ruling in which it placed Star One C5, located at 68° W.L., on the Permitted List.1  As is required by 
section 25.165 of the Commission’s Rules,2 paragraph 5(e) in the ordering clauses of the grant stamp 
directed Star One to file the required $3 million bond by March 10, 2008.
3. On March 4, 2008, Star One filed an application modification in which it requested a one-
week extension of the bond filing deadline to March 17, 2008.3  Star One states that after the 
authorization for Star One C5 was issued, Star One's Chief Executive Officer, the "key decision-maker 
within the company with respect to the bond," was on travel outside of Brazil for nearly two weeks 
  
1 See Star One S.A.; Petition for Declaratory Ruling to Add the Star One C5 Satellite at 68° W.L. to the Permitted 
Space Station List, IBFS File No. SAT-PPL-20071113-00159, Grant Stamp (February 7, 2008) (Star One C5 Grant).
2 47 C.F.R. § 25.165.
3 IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20080304-00057 (Modification Application).
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(February 16-28) of the 30-day period.  It states that as a result of the CEO's unavailability, it is not 
certain that it can complete the documentation for the bond by the March 10, 2008 deadline.4
III. DISCUSSION
4. Star One styles its request as an application for modification of its license, to extend the deadline 
for filing its bond.  However, we note that the 30-day bond deadline is set forth in Section 25.165(a) of the 
Commission's rules.5 Accordingly, in this case, we find that it is reasonable to treat Star One's application as 
a request for a waiver of the bond deadline in Section 25.165(a).  Rules may be waived if there is "good 
cause" to do so.6 Waiver is appropriate if (1) special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule,
and (2) such deviation would better serve the public interest than would strict adherence to the general rule.7  
If the Commission grants a waiver, it must identify and articulate reasonable standards that are predictable, 
workable, and not susceptible to discriminatory application.8 Generally, the Commission may grant a waiver 
of its rules in a particular case only if the relief requested would not undermine the policy objective of the rule 
in question, and would otherwise serve the public interest.9
5. We find that Star One has not presented any special circumstances that justify a waiver of the 
30-day bond filing requirement. It is fairly common for high ranking company officials to be on travel 
during any particular 30-day period.  Star One does not explain why its CEO could not have made 
arrangements to procure the bond while he was on travel, or why its CEO did not designate another 
company official to handle this matter in his absence.  Further, we disagree with Star One's assessment 
that the existence of Star One's license from Brazil eliminates warehousing concerns in this instance.  The 
license from Brazil does not, in itself, provide assurance that Star One will bring the satellite into use at 
the 68° W.L. location to serve the U.S. market.10
6. In addition, we do not find that Star One's reference to the Virtual GEO Order is applicable 
here.  In Virtual GEO, the International Bureau granted a short extension of the bond deadline because the 
license at issue in that Order was issued shortly before the Christmas and New Year holiday season.  As a 
result, the financial community was not available to issue a bond to the licensee during a portion of the 
30-day bond period.11 In this case, Star One does not allege that the financial community is unavailable, 
but rather that its CEO was unavailable.  As noted above, Star One does not adequately explain why it did 
  
4 See Modification Application at 2.
5 47 C.F.R. § 25.165(a).
6 See Section 1.3 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.3.  See also WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153 (D.C. 
Cir. 1969) (WAIT Radio); Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (Northeast 
Cellular).
7 Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.  See also Comsat Corporation, Petition for Partial Relief from the Current 
Regulatory Treatment of Comsat World Systems' Switched Voice, Private Line, and Video and Audio Services, 
Order, 11 FCC Rcd 9622, 9625 (para. 10) (1996); Petition of General Communications, Inc. for a Partial Waiver of 
the Bush Earth Station Policy, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 2535, 2536 (para. 4) (Int'l Bur. 1996).
8 Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.
9 WAIT Radio, 418 F.2d at 1157; Dominion Video Satellite, Inc., Order and Authorization, 14 FCC Rcd 8182, 8185 
(para. 5) (Int'l Bur., 1999) (Dominion Video).
10  See, e.g., EchoStar Satellite, LLC, Order and Authorization, 22 FCC Rcd 20083, 20091-92 (paras. 21-23) (Int'l 
Bur. 2005).
11 Virtual Geosatellite, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 938 (Int'l Bur., 2007).
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not make other arrangements to procure a bond in its CEO's absence. 
7. Accordingly, we deny Star One's request to extend the bond deadline from March 10 to 
March 17, 2008.  If Star One does not file a bond by March 10, 2008, its rights to access the U.S. market 
from the Star One C5 satellite will become null and void, without prejudice to refiling.  
IV.  ORDERING CLAUSES 
8. IT IS ORDERED that the application for modification filed by Star One, S.A., on March 4, 
2007, IBFS No. SAT-MOD-20080304-00057, IS DENIED.
9. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Star One, S.A. C5 satellite (Call Sign S2742) shall be 
removed from the Commission's Permitted List in the event that Star One, S.A. fails to post a $3 million 
bond by March 10, 2008.  Such removal shall be without prejudice to Star One refiling another request to 
serve the U.S. market via Star One C5.
10. This Order is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission’s rules on delegated 
authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective upon release.  
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Robert G. Nelson
Chief, Satellite Division
International Bureau