July 7, 2020 Filed Via ECFS Marlene H. Dortch Secretary Federal
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July 7, 2020 Filed via ECFS Marlene H. Dortch Secretary Federal Communications Commission 45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554 Re: Submission for the Record – Transition Plan (Updated July 2021) GN Docket Nos. 18-122, 20-173 Dear Ms. Dortch: The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“WTB”) on June 23, 2021 issued a Public Notice announcing the opening of a “filing window” for space station operators that elected acceleration to submit any formal amendments to their final Transition Plans.1 Intelsat License LLC, debtor in possession (“Intelsat”)2 last filed a revised version of its final Transition Plan on October 28, 2020.3 Since that time, Intelsat has reported certain updates to details within that Transition Plan with regard to customer changes, earth station claims and similar matters, in its filing of periodic Quarterly Reports required by the FCC’s C-band Report and Order with the FCC in December 2020 as well as March and June of 2021.4 As a result of the updates contained in the Quarterly Reports, interested stakeholders have had the benefit of transparency and ongoing insight into the adjustments and modifications that a project of this size and scope inevitably entails. Intelsat has expended substantial time and effort reconciling FCC license records on incumbent earth stations against the antenna details gathered 1 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Opens Window for Eligible C-Band Satellite Operators to Account for Updates in Their Transition Plans, Public Notice, GN Docket Nos. 18- 122, 20-173, DA 21-736, https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-736A1.pdf (June 23, 2021). 2 Intelsat License LLC, an FCC satellite licensee, and its affiliated entity Intelsat US LLC, which provides operational services to Intelsat License LLC, are collectively referred to in the Transition Plan as “Intelsat.” Intelsat filed an election form to accept the Commission’s accelerated relocation framework and associated deadlines on May 26, 2020. 3 See Intelsat License LLC Submission for the Record – Updated Final Transition Plan (Oct. 28, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10281362705265. 4 See Intelsat License LLC Submission for the Record – June 2021 Quarterly Report (June 29, 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1062977903593; Intelsat License LLC Submission for the Record – March 2021 Quarterly Report (Mar. 31, 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1033146816460; Intelsat License LLC Submission for the Record – December 2020 Quarterly Report (Dec. 28, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1228202726851. during its extensive outreach in order to prepare and file its Quarterly Reports. Further, Intelsat continues to work diligently with earth station operators, the Relocation Coordinator and other satellite operators to ensure appropriate claims and disposition of incumbent earth stations. This remains an ongoing process that will require updates again prior to the Phase I and Phase II accelerated relocation deadlines. The June 23 Public Notice directed that any updates reported in space station operator Quarterly Reports be presented to the WTB as a formal amendment to the last version of final Transition Plans. Consistent with that instruction and the FCC’s stated expectations, Intelsat attaches an updated Transition Plan. Consistent with Intelsat’s previous Transition Plan revisions, the submission contains a change log to clearly spell out the details being modified. Please contact the undersigned with any questions concerning this revised Transition Plan. Respectfully submitted, Intelsat License LLC Michelle V. Bryan Secretary, Intelsat License LLC, and General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, Intelsat US LLC 7900 Tysons One Place McLean, VA 22102-5972 Enclosures Intelsat C-Band Clearing Transition Plan (Updated July 2021) Appendices: Earth Station Listings 2 Intelsat C-Band Clearing Transition Plan 7/7/2021 1 Table of Contents Catalog of Revisions .............................................................................................................................. 5 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 3 Satellite and Launch Program ...................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Galaxy Fleet Satellite Replacement Plan ............................................................................. 12 3.3 Implementation of Compression/Upgrades to Reclaim Spectrum ....................................... 14 3.4 Transitioning Cable Programmers and Their Earth Station Affiliates................................... 15 3.5 Transitioning Broadcast, Religious, Radio and Data Customers ......................................... 17 3.6 New Satellite Launch Program ............................................................................................. 19 4 TT&C Gateway Relocation and Ground Systems Grooming ....................................................... 22 4.1 Phase I Transition Activities.................................................................................................. 22 4.1.1 Paumalu Teleport .......................................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 Brewster Teleport .......................................................................................................... 23 4.2 Phase II Transition Activities................................................................................................. 24 4.2.1 Paumalu Teleport .......................................................................................................... 24 4.2.2 Andover Teleport ........................................................................................................... 24 4.2.3 Latin America Teleport .................................................................................................. 25 4.2.4 Hartebeesthoek, South Africa Teleport ......................................................................... 25 4.3 Summary of Antenna Relocations ........................................................................................ 25 4.4 TT&C Antennas for the Seven New Galaxy Satellites ......................................................... 26 5 Work Associated with Repacking the C-Band .............................................................................. 27 5.1 Process and Communications about Customer Transitions ................................................ 28 5.1.1 Outreach Effort for Data Collection ............................................................................... 28 5.1.2 Scheduling Process ...................................................................................................... 28 5.1.3 Engineering for Site-Specific Technical Challenges ..................................................... 29 5.1.4 Self-installation and Reimbursement of Actual Expenses ............................................ 29 5.2 Earth Station Change Types ................................................................................................ 29 5.2.1 Frequency Change [F] .................................................................................................. 30 5.2.2 Transponder Reassignment of In-Orbit Protection Bandwidth [R] ............................... 30 5.2.3 Polarity Changes [P] ..................................................................................................... 30 2 5.2.4 Satellite Changes [S]..................................................................................................... 30 5.2.5 Compression/Technology Upgrades Required [C] ....................................................... 31 5.3 Filter Installation .................................................................................................................... 31 5.3.1 Filter Versions ............................................................................................................... 32 5.3.2 Phase I Filtering ............................................................................................................ 32 5.3.3 Phase II Filtering ........................................................................................................... 32 5.3.4 Coordination with SES for Cable Headends and Multi-feed Antenna Filtering ............ 33 5.3.5 Earth Station Operator Responsibilities ........................................................................ 34 6 Customer Migration Plans ............................................................................................................ 35 6.1 Transition Plan (Chronological) ............................................................................................ 35 6.1.1 Table 1 Phase I Grooming Plan Transition Activities (Chronological) .......................... 35 6.1.2 Table 2 Phase II Grooming Plan Transition Activities (Chronological) ......................... 37 6.2 Transition Plan (Customer-Centric) ...................................................................................... 39 6.2.1 Table 3 Phase I Grooming Plan Transition Activities (Customer-Centric) ................... 39 6.2.2 Table 4 Phase II Grooming Plan Transition Activities (Customer-Centric) .................. 41 6.3 Satellite Transponder Loading