NASA ViaSat Coordination Agreement

1755-EX-ST-2016 Post Grant Documents

Leidos, Inc.

2017-05-25ELS_192569

                    Coordination Agreement Between the
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) and
    VIASAT, Incorporated (VIASAT) for Operation of the VIASAT Arclight®
                AMSS Terminals in the 14.0 – 14.5 GHz-Band

VIASAT seeks to operate aeronautical mobile-satellite service (AMSS) stations over the United
States and Possessions (US&P) in the 14.0 - 14.5 GHz band. The AMSS stations are part of the
ViaSat Arclight® communications system earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA) using
transponders in the geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) arc. This Coordination Agreement has been
prepared in compliance with the rules of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the
recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).


1    Overview

1.1 Within the US&P, the 14.0 – 14.5 GHz-band is currently allocated to the fixed-satellite
service, including the use by earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA), on a primary basis. FCC
requires all ESAA using this band to protect Space Research Services (SRS) earth stations and the
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) that operate and require protection in this
band.

1.2 ViaSat, Inc. holds a license authorization to operate ESAA units in the 14.0 – 14.5 GHz-
band.

1.3 The ViaSat Arclight® ESAAs receive from, and transmit to, GSO satellite transponders
under control of a Ground Earth Station (GES) and Network Operations Center (NOC). They, and
the terrestrial network to which they are connected, comprise the VIASAT system.

1.4 This Coordination Agreement has been prepared to ensure that operation of the ViaSat
Arclight® ESAAs conform to FCC requirements for protection of the NASA SRS Network.

1.5 ViaSat, Inc. has the authority to negotiate and sign this Coordination Agreement for its
Arclight® AMSS system and NASA has the authority to negotiate and sign this agreement for the
TDRSS and SRS Network sites listed in Section 3.1.

2    AUTHORITY

2.1 NASA concludes this agreement pursuant to 42 USC §2473(c)(5) and (6) and section 203(5)
    of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 as amended, in addition to the Manual of
    Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (National
    Telecommunications & Information Administration Redbook), May 2013 Edition.




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3      Space Research Service Earth Stations

3.1    Table 1 provides a list of TDRSS earth station sites requiring interference protection. The
       TDRSS satellite orbital locations supported by each earth station site are also shown.

                                                                                       TDRSS Satellite
    Earth Station Site                     Latitude              Longitude
                                                                                         Longitude.
                                           degrees                 degrees              Degrees East
    Continental United States             32.5434N                                          -174
                                                                                            -171
                                                                                           -167.5
    White Sands, New Mexico                                                                 -150
     Antenna Size – 18.3 meter                                   106.6121W                   -79
     Antenna Gain – 66.4 dBi                                                                 -62
     Elevation – 1456 m                                                                      -49
                                                                                             -46
                                                                                             -41
    Continental United States                                                                -12
    Blossom Point, MD                                                                        -41
       Antenna Size – 20 meter                                                               -46
                                          38.4289N               77.0839W
       Antenna Gain – 67.2 dBi                                                               -49
       Elevation – 5 m                                                                       -62

    United States Territory                                                                   85
    Guam                                                                                      89
      Antenna Size – 11 meter             13.5881N               144.8410E                   -174
      Antenna Gain – 61.9 dBi                                                                -171
                                                                                            -167.5
       Elevation – 129 m
                                                                                             -150
                                 Table 1 TDRSS Earth Station Sites

3.2      New TDRSS Earth Station Sites:

         NASA may unilaterally add additional TDRSS earth station sites to the list in Table 1
above. NASA will notify NTIA/FCC when it knows that a new earth station is being planned and
has the coordinates of the newly planned site and public notice(s) will be issued by the FCC as
appropriate.




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3.3       Earth Site Protection Limits:

3.3.1     The TDRSS protection limits are listed in Table 2 below for the WSC, Guam and BP
sites.

          Frequency Band          Interference Threshold Limit   Reference Percentage
                                  Measured at Antenna Output           of Time
         13.40 – 14.00 GHz                 -176 dBW/kHz          Never to be Exceeded
         14.00 – 14.05 GHz                -146 dBW/MHz           Never to be Exceeded
         14.05 – 14.20 GHz           -100 dBW (WSC/Guam);        Never to be Exceeded
                                           -85 dBW (BP)
                                    Table 2. TDRSS Protection Limits

3.3.2 For interference calculations, the TDRSS spacecraft can have an inclination angle up to 15
degrees. In calculating the interference threshold levels in Table 2, the antenna patterns in Figure
1 below should be used.




                          Figure 1. TDRSS Earth Station Antenna Gain Patterns
          Note: The antenna off-axis patterns shown for WSC and Guam in Figure 1 are
          calculated using Annex III of Appendix 8 of the ITU Radio Regulations, with
          the following modifications:
          G1 = 5 + 15log(D/λ)
          φr = 12.02 (D/ λ)-0.6




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         where Gmax and D are given in Table 1. The antenna sidelobe pattern for BP is
         improved by 3 dB compared to that of WSC and Guam.

4     Operational Coordination Agreement

4.1 NASA and VIASAT agree to the following:

4.1.1      The purpose of this Coordination Agreement is to provide protection to the TDRSS earth
station sites listed in Table 1 and any future TDRSS earth station sites.

4.1.2 The level of protection afforded to the earth stations in Table 1, and any future TDRSS
earth station sites which NASA adds to Table 1 pursuant to Section 3.2.2 of this Agreement, shall
be equal to or greater than the Interference Threshold Limits shown in Table 2.

4.2 This Coordination Agreement may be reviewed periodically by the signatories to the
agreement following commencement of service by VIASAT under an operational license from the
FCC. The purpose of the review is to assess the effectiveness of this agreement and update this,
or subordinate operational agreements, as appropriate.

4.3 Each party shall inform the other party in a timely manner of changes in the points of contact
as defined in Section 7.

4.4   VIASAT agrees to:

4.4.1 Monitor, control and cease transmissions from any ESAA that would exceed the thresholds
given in Table 2 within radio line-of-sight of the sites listed in Table 1.

4.4.2 Monitor, control and cease transmissions from any ESAA that would exceed the thresholds
given in the Table 2 within radio line-of-sight of such additional sites as NASA may require.

4.4.3 Respond expeditiously to a NASA request for protection of the sites listed in Section 3.1, in
accordance with the threshold limits of Section 3.3.

4.4.4 Respond expeditiously to a NASA request to isolate a source of interference to a TDRSS
earth station suspected to be from an ESAA.

4.4.5 Provide a central point of contact accessible and available (on a 24 hour, 7 day basis) for
interference resolution and other contact.

4.5   NASA agrees to:

4.5.1 Maintain an open dialog with VIASAT concerning any perceived breach of interference
thresholds that may be attributable to an ESAA that is not in compliance with this Coordination
Agreement.




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4.5.2 Provide timely notification to VIASAT of changes or additions to TDRSS earth station sites,
TDRSS spacecraft orbital positions or interference thresholds listed in this Coordination
Agreement.

5    Financial Obligations

5.1: Each party shall be responsible for funding its own responsibilities under this Agreement. No
provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to require obligation of funds in violation of the
Anti-Deficiency Act 31 U.S.C § 1341.


6    Assignment and Termination

6.1 This Coordination Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns.

6.2 This Coordination Agreement may be terminated by either party upon 6 months written notice
to the other.

6.3 CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS: The obligation of VIASAT to protect the NASA TDRSS
earth stations from interference as described in this agreement will survive termination or
expiration of this Agreement.


7    Points of Contact

7.1 Points of contact concerning issues of a policy nature concerning this Coordination
Agreement, or the designation of future technical contacts for updating or revising this
Agreement:

Name: Victor Sparrow                               Name: Daryl T. Hunter, P.E.
Title: Director NASA Spectrum Policy               Title: Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs
Organization: NASA                                 Organization: ViaSat, Inc.
Address: NASA Headquarters                         Address: 6155 El Camino Real
          300 E Street SW                                    Carlsbad, CA 92009
Washington D.C. 20546-0001
Telephone: (202) 358-0681                          Telephone: (760) 476-2583
e-mail: Victor.D.Sparrow@nasa.gov                  e-mail: daryl.hunter@viasat.com

7.2 Points of contact for technical issues or questions related to this Coordination Agreement:

Name: Vincent Scott Galbraith                      Name: Daryl T. Hunter, P.E.
Title: Goddard Spectrum Manager                    Title: Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs
Organization: NASA                                 Organization: ViaSat, Inc.
Address: Goddard Space Flight Center               Address: 6155 El Camino Real
Exploration and Space Communications Office                  Carlsbad, CA 92009



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Greenbelt, MD 20771
Telephone: (301) 286-5089                          Telephone: (760) 476-2583
Facsimile: (301) 286-1769                          Facsimile: (760) 929-3941
e-mail: vincent.s.galbraith@nasa.gov               e-mail: daryl.hunter@viasat.com

8    Signatures

This Coordination Agreement is being made in good faith by both parties and is effective on the
date on of final signature.


For: The National Aeronautics and Space            For: ViaSat, Inc.
Administration:




By: ___________________________                    By: __________________________

Name: Victor Sparrow                               Name: Daryl T. Hunter, P.E.

Title: Director, Spectrum Plans and Policy         Title: Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs


Date: __________________________                   Date: _________________________




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Document Created: 0001-01-01 00:00:00
Document Modified: 0001-01-01 00:00:00

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