Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
DA 09-895
April 22, 2009
William M. Wiltshire
Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP
1200 18th Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20036
Re:   DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC,
IBFS File No. SAT-LOA-20090309-00033, Call Sign: S2788
Dear Mr. Wiltshire:
On March 9, 2009, DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC (“DIRECTV”) filed an application for authority to 
construct, launch, and operate a geostationary Ka-band satellite at the 97.1° W.L. orbital location operating 
on the following frequencies: 18300-18800 MHz, 19700-20200 MHz, 28350-28600 MHz, 29250-29500 
MHz, and 29500-3000 MHz.1 The Commission has not announced that the orbital location and frequency 
bands are available for assignment. 2 Consequently, the application is premature and is dismissed without 
prejudice to refiling. 
Accordingly, pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission’s rules on delegations of authority, 47 
C.F.R. § 0.261, we dismiss DIRECTV’s application related to the  97° W.L. orbital location without 
prejudice to refiling.
Sincerely,
Robert Nelson
Chief, Satellite Division
International Bureau
  
1 EchoStar Satellite Corporation (“EchoStar”) was licensed by the Commission to launch and operate a space station at 
the same nominal orbital location using these frequencies.  EchoStar Satellite Corp., IBFS File Nos. SAT-LOA-
20030827-00186 & SAT-AMD-20031203-00345, Call Sign: S2499 (granted Mar. 8, 2004).  On March 9, 2009, 
EchoStar filed a letter surrendering the license and seeking that the Commission grant an unconditional release of 
payment due under the bond. Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos, Counsel to EchoStar Satellite Corp., to Marlene H. 
Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, dated March 9, 2009.  This dismissal letter is not intended to 
be a “Notice of Default” under the bond submitted by EchoStar and is without prejudice to the request made in its 
March 9, 2009 letter. 
2 Amendment of the Commission's Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies, First Report and Order, IB Docket No. 
02-34, 18 FCC Rcd 10760, 10806  (para. 113) (2003) (an orbit location does not become “available” until the 
Commission adopts “an Order revoking a license in cases where [the Commission] revoke[s] the license, or upon 
release of a public notice announcing that a licensee has surrendered its license in cases where the licensee surrenders its 
license.”)