Direct Broadcast Satellite System Research Articles

The Flexible Domestic Regulatory Approach for Direct Broadcast Satellite Systems in the United States

Of the eight direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system applicants originally granted conditional construction permits in 1982 for service within the United States, four have made sufficient progress in construction or contracting for construction to warrant the awarding of launch authority by the Federal Communications Commission. Action will soon be taken that could allow up to seven additional applicants to begin construction of their systems. As a result, satellite direct-to-home service could be available across the continental United States to home receiving dishes as small as 2-3 ft by early 1986. In the meantime, Congress has legalized home earth stations in bands allocated to the fixed-satellite service (FSS) under certain conditions. This paper describes the domestic regulatory policies and procedures, both technical and nontechnical, governing the DBS service in the United States. Consideration is also given to related regulatory matters which affect the future of DBS, such as technical standards, the growth of DBS-like services in fixed-satellite service bands, and frequency sharing between DBS and terrestrial systems.

Direct Broadcast Satellite Systems in Europe

The 1977 World Broadcasting Satellite Administrative Radio Conference (WARC'77) outlined the rules for national DBS systems in Europe. Since that time, technological developments and economic uncertainties have influenced all of the proposed national systems. This paper reports on the status of each national DBS project, outlining the key uncertainties and highlighting the current directions of the individual ventures. The DBS systems based on the WARC'77 Plan are then contrasted with the current medium-power satellite projects and the Eutelsat communications satellite system with emphasis on the market, technical, and regulatory aspects.

The International Telecommunication Union and Broadcasting from Satellites - A Brief Review

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conducts a continuing and extensive activity with regard to the broadcasting-satellite service (BSS). First, in appropriate administrative radio conferences, the ITU a) allocates frequency bands for the BSS, sometimes shared with other radiocommunications services, b) establishes the conditions for such frequency sharing, c) plans orbit and frequency assignments within the bands allocated to the BSS, and d) establishes utilization rules, e.g., notification procedures for planned direct broadcast satellite (DBS) systems, coordination with terrestrial stations, resolution of difficulties,etc. Second, through its International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR), the ITU studies technical and operational matters regarding the BSS, needed by the above conferences and conducive to a smooth international exchange of television and sound programs for the BSS. The paper reviews and explains these activities and their impact on the development of DBS systems in the BSS.

An interactive computer program for elliptical beam optimization

AbstractElliptical antenna beams are used for planning of direct broadcast satellite systems. In this paper concepts of the beam optimization process are described briefly. A method of plotting the optimized beam on a suitable map projection is discussed. An interactive computer program, which can be used for the optimization and plotting of beams on a given territory, is described with the help of examples.

United States direct broadcast satellite system development

United States direct broadcast satellite system development