Attachment PlanetLabs - Grant i

PlanetLabs - Grant i

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

Grant in part defer in part

2016-06-15

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20150802-00053 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2015080200053_1139252

                                                              ** GRANT1 Efi (5;@ I~_PBK1T+s _
s2912        SAT—MOD—20150802—00053      182015001437                    Filo # Spmi— MOD" 20150862—00053
Planet Labs Inc.                                                                               Nevmrmormmeameerngrmnpemymnmnaseneetmmme
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                                                                                       CallSign 829l2 Grant Date_OG/15 /i6
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                                                                                                    C      en       TermDates S€€          Approved by OMB
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                                                                                       From_   06/ 5/i6                   To: conditions
                                                              Cqmm:D*                      ‘“m-—Li—/                        ¢
        Date & Time Filed: Aug 22015 1:43:58:963PM          International Bureart      Approved:
        File Number: SAT—MOD—20150802—00053               % wfih cond uhms                                       S           F. Duall
                                                                                                                ChiefSatite Policg Branch
           FCC APPLICATION FOR SPACE AND EARTH STATION:MOD OR AMD — MAIN FORM                                             [FCC Use Only

                                FCC 312 MAIN FORM FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY


        APPLICANT INFORMATION
        Enter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu:
        Flock Mod 3
        1—8. Legal Name of Applicant

                   Name:        Planet Labs Inc.                         Phone Number:                              415—829—3313
                   DBA                                                   Fax Number:                                415—534—8992
                   Name:
                   Street:      346 9th St.                              E—Mail:                                    mike@planet.com


                   City:        San Francisco                            State:                                      CA
                   Country:      USA                                     Zipcode:                                   94103        =
                   Attention:   Michael Safyan


                                           Attachment to Grant
                                 IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20150802—00053
                                              Call Sign $2912

The application of Planet Labs Inc. (Planet Labs), IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20150802—00053,
to modify its authorization to construct, deploy and operate a system of technically identical non—
geostationary orbit (NGSO) Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) satellites (Call Sign
$2912), is GRANTED IN PART AND DEFERRED IN PART. Specifically, we defer action on
Planet Labs‘ request to include in its authorization satellites that are the subject of a Petition to
Deny by ORBCOMM.‘ We also defer action on transmissions of remote sensing and telemetry
data to earth stations in the 8025—8400 MHz frequency band not listed in the table to condition 6
below. We otherwise grant Planet Labs‘ application. Planet Labs is authorized to construct,
deploy, and operate up to 600 technically identical NGSO EESS satellites in addition to those
satellites already deployed and currently operational." The satellites will be deployed at altitudes
between 350 km and 660 km and will transmit remote sensing and telemetry data to fixed earth
stationsin the 8025—8400 MHz (space—to—Earth) frequency band, receive command signals in the
2025—2110 MHz (Earth—to—space) frequency band, and may use the 401—402 MHz (space—to—
earth) and 449.75—450.25 MHz (Earth—to—space) frequency bands for early—phase and emergency—
backup telemetry, tracking, and command operations, as well as for ranging and orbit
determination on a non—emergency basis throughout the mission lifetime. Operations under this
grant of authority must be in accordance with the terms, conditions, and technical specifications
set forth in Planet Lab‘s application and the Federal Communications Commission‘s rules, and
are subject to the following conditions:

         1.     Planet Labs must prepare the necessary information, as may be required, for
submission to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to initiate and complete the
advance publication, coordination, due diligence, and notification process for these space
stations, in accordance with the ITU Radio Regulations. Planet Labs shall be held responsible for
all cost—recovery fees associated with ITU filings. No protection from interference caused by
radio stations authorized by other administrations is guaranteed unless coordination and
notification procedures are timely completed or, with respect to individual administrations, by
successfully completing coordination agreements. Any radio station authorization for which
coordination has not been completed may be subject to additional terms and conditions as



‘ The application was placed on Public Notice as accepted for filing on December 18, 2016. See Policy Branch
Information, Satellite Space Applications Acceptedfor Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT— 01124 (IBFS File
No. SAT—MOD—20160802—00053). On January 18, 2016, ORBCOMM License Corp. (ORBCOMM) filed a Petition
to Dismiss, Deny or Hold in Abeyance certain portions of the Planet Labs application. ORBCOMM objected to
Planet Lab‘s proposed operations using altitudes and orbital planes that would intersect with the authorized 47
degree—inclined 715 kilometer target operational orbits for its ORBCOMM Generation 2 satellites. ORBCOMM
Petition at 1. The satellites authorized in this grant will be deployed at an altitude at or below 660 km. These orbital
altitudes are not the subject of ORBCOMM‘s Petition and can be granted without prejudice to ORBCOMM‘s
Petition.

> Planet Labs has previously been authorized to construct, deploy and operate satellites. See IBFS File Nos. SAT—
LOA—20130626—00087 (granted December 3, 2013), SAT—MOD—20140321—00032 (granted June 18, 2014), and
SAT—MOD—20140912—00100 (granted October 23, 2014). As of June 15, 2016, the satellites deployed and
operational on orbit include 11 satellites that were deployed to a circular orbit at an initial altitude of 620 km (Flock
1¢c), 14 satellites deployed from the ISS (Flock 1e), 12 satellites deployed from the ISS (Flock 2b), and 24 satellites
recently deployed from the ISS. (Flocks 2e and 2e‘). Eight Flock 2e‘ satellites remain on ISS and are expected to be
deployed soon.


                                     Attachment to Grant
                           IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20150802—00053
                                          Call Sign $2912

required to effect coordination with the frequency assignments of other administrations. See 47
CFR § 25.111(b).

        2.     The number of simultaneously operational satellites must not exceed 200.

      3.       No more than 120 satellites may be deployed to orbits that exceed an altitude of
500 kilometers.

       4.       Deployment into an orbit with an inclination of 51.6 degrees, plus or minus 0.1
degree, at an altitude above the ISS, is not authorized by this grant.

        5.     Planet Labs shall tune TT&C UHF links to an agreed frequency range with
NOAA as soon as possible to minimize interference to NOAAA GOES Data Collection System
(DCS), and radiosonde operations and continue to work closely with NOAA to identify and
implement any further measures needed to avoid RFI to the systems mentioned earlier. This
initial tuning would be an interim frequency range for Planet Labs to use for upcoming launches.
For future mission planning, transition out of 401—406 MHz to avoid interference to DCS and
radiosondes is recommended. Planet Labs and NOAA shall work jointly to explore future
mitigation strategies to avoid interference to NOAA missions.

        6.    Transmissions of remote—sensing and telemetry data in the 8025—8400 MHz
frequency band may only be made to and when within line of sight of the following earth
stations:

  Location

  Maddock, ND (see condition 7 of this grant)

  Brewster, WA

  Goonhilly, United Kingdom

  Chilbolton, United Kingdom

  Awarua, New Zealand

  Usingen, Germany

 Ningi, Australia

  Keflavik, Iceland (see condition 7 of this grant)



Transmissions to other earth station locations in the 8025—8400 MHz frequency band requires
supplementing this modification application to include such additional earth station prior to


                                      Attachment to Grant
                            IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20150802—00053
                                         Call Sign $2912

action on the deferred portion of this application, or modification of this license condition after
action is taken on the deferred portion.

        7.      Planet Labs is not authorized to use the Maddock, ND, and Keflavik, Iceland,
earth stations with newly launched Planet Labs satellites due to interference with operations of
the LandSat satellites in the 8025—8400 MHz band until such time as a final agreement is reached
on the necessary Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). Transmission to those earth stations will
subsequently be subject to the terms and agreements of the MoA. The details (technical and
otherwise) of such an arrangement need to be worked out between Planet Labs and three
interested agencies (NASA, USGS, NOAA).

        8.      Power flux—density from operation in the 8025—8400 MHz band must not exceed
the limits in No. 22.5 or Table 21—4 of the International Telecommunication Union‘s Radio
Regulations or the limits in ITU—R Recommendation SA—1157.3.

        9.      Operations pursuant to this authorization must not cause harmful interference to
stations operating in the 2025—2110 MHz band in accordance with the U.S. Table of Frequency
Allocations. See 47 CFR § 2.106, Footnote US347.

        10.     Given the opportunity for additional entrants to operate in the 8025—8400 MHz
band, we grant Planet Lab‘s request for waiver of the modified processing round requirements of
47 CFR §§ 25.156 and 25.157. See DigitalGlobe, Inc., Order and Authorization, 20 FCC Red
15696 (Sat. Div., Int‘l Bur. 2005), at paragraph 8.

        11.     Because Planet Labs must comply with technical requirements in Part 2 of the
Commission‘s rules and the above—referenced power flux—density limits, which should prevent
harmful interference to other operations in the band, we grant its request for a waiver of the
default service rules in 47 CFR § 25.217(b). See DigitalGlobe, Inc., supra, at paragraph 15.

        12.    This authorization will become null and void if, at any time during the license
term, none of the 600 satellites hereby authorized is operating. This authorization may be
subject to additional conditions, or a reduction in the number of authorized satellites, in the event
future deployment rates do not justify an authorization for 200 operational satellites.

         13.     Planet Labs has fulfilled milestone and bond obligations imposed as conditions to
a previous grant of authority to operate up to 28 NGSO satellites in the $025—8400 MHz band.
See IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20140321—00032 (grant stamp dated June 18, 2014). Because of
the need for Planet Labs to continuously replenish its satellite constellation within the duration of
its license term, we will not impose additional milestones or bond conditions in connection with
this license modification. We find that warehousing concerns are addressed in this situation
through the imposition of condition 12 above.

        14.     Within 30 days after deployment of each satellite pursuant to this authorization,
Planet Labs must file a notification with the Commission specifying its apogee and perigee
altitudes and orbital inclination.


                                     Attachment to Grant
                           IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20150802—00053
                                        Call Sign $2912

       15.     The authority granted herein is subject to the existing license term for operation
under $2912, which ends February 28, 2029.

         16.     This action is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on
delegated authority, 47 CFR § 0.261, and is effective immediately. Petitions for reconsideration
under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission‘s rules, 47
CFR § § 1.106 and 1.115, may be filed within 3 0 days of the date of the public notice indicating
that this action was taken.


                           ** GRANTinPhrr /perer in pogts«
                                                Fn_g"' SAT—MOD— 2015 agoz— ons3
                                                         1i

                                                Call Sign _QZ_% Grant Date OQ::Z 5/16
                                                (or other identifier)
                                                                        TermDates   See
                                                From_86//5/)6                To:    conditions
                         International Bureau   Approved:
                     #todh conclifions                            Sh          ‘Duall
                                                                  ChiefSedellite Policy Branch


9—16. Name of Contact Representative

            Name:          Michael Safyan                         Phone Number:                       415—829—3313
            Company:       Planet Labs Inc.                       Fax Number:                         415—534—8992
            Street:        346 9th St                             E—Mail:                             mike@planet.com


            City:          San Francisco                          State:                               CA
            Country:        USA                                   Zipcode:                            94103—
            Attention:     Michael Safyan                         Relationship:                        Engineer


CLASSIFICATION OF FILING
17. Choose the button next to the
classification that applies to this filing for   (N/A) b1. Application for License of New Station
both questions a. and b. Choose only one         (N/A) b2. Application for Registration of New Domestic Receive—Only Station
for 17a and only one for 17b.                    4 b3. Amendment to a Pending Application
                                                  , b4. Modification of License or Registration
   4 al. Earth Station
                                                 b5. Assignment of License or Registration
   , a2. Space Station                           b6. Transfer of Control of License or Registration
                                                 {3 b7. Notification of Minor Modification
                                                  (N/A) b8. Application
                                                              PP         for License of New Receive—Only Station Using§ Non—U.S. Licensed
                                                 Satellite
                                                  (N/A) b9. Letter of Intent to Use Non—U.S. Licensed Satellite to Provide Service in the United
                                                 States
                                                  (N/A) b10. Other (Please specify)
                                                    (N/A) b11. Application for Earth Station to Access a Non—U.S.satellite Not Currently Authorized
                                                 to Provide the Proposed Service in the Proposed Frequencies in the United States
                                                    (N/A) b12. Application for Database Entry
                                                  34 b13. Amendment to a Pending Database Entry Application
                                                  £4 b14. Modification of Database Entry


 17¢. Is a fee submitted with this application?                                                              .
@ IfYes, complete and attach FCC Form 159.        If No, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R.Section 1.1114).
G Governmental Entity         { Noncommercial educational licensee
C Other(please explain):

174.

Fee Classification CGW — Space Station Modification(Non—
Geostationary)




18. If this filing is in reference to an    19. If this filing is an amendment to a pending application enter both fields, if this filing is a
existing station, enter:                    modification please enter only the file number:
(a) Call sign of station:                   (a) Date pending application was filed:              (b) File number:
     $2912
                                                                                                 SATMOD2014091200100


TYPE OF SERVICE
20. NATURE OF SERVICE: This filing is for an authorization to provide or use the following type(s) of service(s): Select all that apply:

[:] a. Fixed Satellite
D b. Mobile Satellite
D c. Radiodetermination Satellite
E d. Earth Exploration Satellite
D e. Direct to Home Fixed Satellite
D £. Digital Audio Radio Service
D g. Other (please specify)


21. STATUS: Choose the button next to the applicable status. Choose      |22. If earth station applicant, check all that apply.
only one.                                                                E Using U.S. licensed satellites
«34 Common Carrier       @ Non—Common Carrier                            D Using Non—U.S. licensed satellites

23. If applicant is providng INTERNATIONAL COMMON CARRIER service, see instructions regarding Sec. 214 filings. Choose one. Are these
facilities:
{3 Connected to a Public Switched Network   g4 Not connected to a Public Switched Network @ N/A

 24. FREQUENCY BAND(S): Place an °X" in the box(es) next to all applicable frequency band(s).
D a. C—Band (4/6 GHz) D b. Ku—Band (12/14 GHz)                                                ~
E c.Other (Please specify upper and lower frequencies in MHz.)
       Frequency Lower: 401               Frequency Upper: 8400            (Please specify additional frequencies in an attachment)


TYPE OF STATION
25. CLASS OF STATION: Choose the button next to the class of station that applies. Choose only one.
{p a Fixed Earth Station
<4 b. Temporary—Fixed Earth Station
3 c 12/14 GHz VSAT Network
C d. Mobile Earth Station
e Geostationary Space Station
@ £. Non—Geostationary Space Station
£3 g. Other (please specify)


26. TYPE OF EARTH STATION FACILITY:
$ Transmit/Receive > Transmit—Only              {4 Receive—Only    @ N/A
"For Space Station applications, select N/A."


PURPOSE OF MODIFICATION


27. The purpose of this proposed modification is to: (Place an °X" in the box(es) next to all that apply.)


    D a —— authorization to add new emission designator and related service
    D b —— authorization to change emission designator and related service
    D c —— authorization to increase EIRP and EIRP density
    D d —— authorization to replace antenna
    ['J e —— authorization to add antenna
    L‘] f —authorization to relocate fixed station
    D g —— authorization to change frequency(ies)
     D h —— authorization to add frequency
    D i —— authorization to add Points of Communication (satellites &amp; countries)
    D j — authorization to change Points of Communication (satellites &amp; countries)
        k —— authorization for facilities for which environmental assessment and
radiation hazard reporting is required
     D 1 —— authorization to change orbit location
    D m —— authorization to perform fleet management
    D n —— authorization to extend milestones
    E o —— Other (Please specify)


ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY


 28. Would a Commission grant of any proposal in this application or amendment have a significant environmental        C Yes @ No
 impact as defined by 47 CFR 1.1307? IfYES, submit the statement as required by Sections 1.1308 and 1.1311 of
 the Commission‘s rules, 47 C.F.R. 1.1308 and 1.1311, as an exhibit to this application.A Radiation Hazard Study
 must accompany all applications for new transmitting facilities, major modifications, or major amendments.



ALIEN OWNERSHIP Earth station applicants not proposing to provide broadcast, common carrier, aeronautical en route or
aeronautical fixed radio station services are not required to respond to Items 30—34.


29. Is the applicant a foreign government or the representative of any foreign government?                             ; Yes @ No




30. Is the applicant an alien or the representative of an alien?                                                       o Ye & No 4 N/A




31. Is the applicant a corporation organized under the laws of any foreign government?                                 ; Yes & No &4 N/A




32. Is the applicant a corporation of which more than one—fifth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by    @ Yes ; No & N/A
aliens or their representatives or by a foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation organized
under the laws of a foreign country?


33. Is the applicant a corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than          & Ye & No 4 NA
one—fourth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign
government or representative thereof or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country?




34. If any answer to questions 29, 30, 31, 32 and/or 33 is Yes, attach as an exhibit an identification of the aliens or
foreign entities, their nationality, their relationship to the applicant, and the percentage of stock they own or vote.



BASIC QUALIFICATIONS


35. Does the Applicant request any waivers or exemptions from any of the Commission‘s Rules?                                @, Yes   {4 No
IfYes, attach as an exhibit, copies of the requests for waivers or exceptions with supporting documents.




36. Has the applicant or any party to this application or amendment had any FCC station authorization or license            £y Yes   @ No
revoked or had any application for an initial, modification or renewal of FCC station authorization, license, or
construction permit denied by the Commission? IfYes, attach as an exhibit, an explination of circumstances.


37. Has the applicant, or any party to this application or amendment, or any party directly or indirectly controlling         C Yes   @.No
the applicant ever been convicted of a felony by any state or federal court? IfYes, attach as an exhibit, an
explination of circumstances.




38. Has any court finally adjudged the applicant, or any person directly or indirectly controlling the applicant,            «3 Yes   @No
guilty of unlawfully monopolizing or attemptiing unlawfully to monopolize radio communication, directly or
indirectly, through control of manufacture or sale of radio apparatus, exclusive traffic arrangement or any other
means or unfair methods of competition?IfYes, attach as an exhibit, an explanation of circumstances




39. Is the applicant, or any person directly or indirectly controlling the applicant, currently a party in any pending       C Yes    @.No
matter referred to in the preceding two items? If yes, attach as an exhinit, an explanation of the circumstances.




40. If the applicant is a corporation and is applying for a space station license, attach as an exhibit the names,
address, and citizenship of those stockholders owning a record and/or voting 10 percent or more of the Filer‘s
voting stock and the percentages so held. In the case of fiduciary control, indicate the beneficiary(ies) or class of    Exhibit 40
beneficiaries. Also list the names and addresses of the officers and directors of the Filer.


 41. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies, that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is           @ Yes        «y No
 subject to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti—Drug Act of
 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. See
47 CFR 1.2002(b) for the meaning of &quot;party to the application&quot; for these purposes.




42a. Does the applicant intend to use a non—U.S. licensed satellite to provide service in the United States? IfYes,         «4 Yes       @ No
answer 42b and attach an exhibit providing the information specified in 47 C.E.R. 25.137, as appropriate. If No,
proceed to question 43.




42b. What administration has licensed or is in the process of licensing the space station? If no license will be issued, what administration has
coordinated or is in the process of coordinating the space station?




43. Description. (Summarize the nature of the application and the services to be provided).   (If the complete description does not appear in this
box, please go to the end of the form to view it in its entirety.)
     Planet Labs Inc.         requests modification of its authorization to operate a NGSO EESS space
     station license,         Céll Sign $2912,          to maintain up to 200             satellites in Low Earth orbit over
     the next 10 years, which requires launch authorization of up to 600 technically identical
     satellites over the 10 year duration.                     The primary orbit of the satellites will be 475 km
Exhibit 43




10


 43a. Geographic Service Rule Certification                                                                                   @ A
 By selecting A, the undersigned certifies that the applicant is not subject to the geographic service or geographic
 coverage requirements specified in 47 C.F.R. Part 25.
                                                                                                                              o B
 By selecting B, the undersigned certifies that the applicantis subject to the geographic service or geographic
 coverage requirements specified in 47 C.F.R. Part 25 and will comply with such requirements.
                                                                                                                              & C
By selecting C, the undersigned certifies that the applicant is subject to the geographic service or geographic
coverage requirements specified in 47 C.F.R. Part 25 and will not comply with such requirements because it is not
feasible as a technical matter to do so, or that, while technically feasible, such services would require so many
compromises in satellite design and operation as to make it economically unreasonable. A narrative description
and technical analysis demonstrating this claim are attached.




CERTIFICATION
The Applicant waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or of the electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the
United States because of the previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and requests an authorization in accordance with this
application. The applicant certifies that grant of this application would not cause the applicant to be in violation of the spectrum aggregation limit
in 47 CFR Part 20. All statements made in exhibits are a material part hereof and are incorporated herein as if set out in full in this application.
The undersigned, individually and for the applicant, hereby certifies that all statements made in this application and in all attached exhibits are
true, complete and correct to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, and are made in good faith.




11


44. Applicant is a (an): (Choose the button next to applicable response.)

 C3 Individual
 C3 Unincorporated Association
 > Partnership
 & Corporation
 C Governmental Entity
 C Other (please specify)




     45. Name of Person Signing                                             46. Title of Person Signing
     Michael Safyan                                                         Director of Launch and Regulatory Affairs
       ——>


             WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND / OR IMPRISONMENT
                      (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION AUTHORIZATION
                    (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 503).




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43. Description. (Summarize the nature of the application and the services to be provided).

Planet Labs Inc. requests modification of its authorization to operate a NGSO EESS space station
license,     Call Sign $2912,        to maintain up to 200 satellites in Low Earth orbit over the next 10
years,   which requires launch authorization of up to 600 technically identical satellites over the
10 year duration. The primary orbit of the satellites will be 475 km circular,                SSO.   See Exhibit 43
for additional information.




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Document Created: 2016-06-15 16:55:18
Document Modified: 2016-06-15 16:55:18

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