SBE, DoD reach agreement on 2GHz BAS operation near 11 military uplink sites

The Society of Broadcast Engineers and the Department of Defense (DOD) Space Operation Service have entered into a memorandum of understanding regarding the use of the 2025MHz to 2110MHz band in the area surround 11 military bases.

In those areas, the military operates on “a coequal, primary basis” with “non-Federal terrestrial transmitting stations” on those frequencies, which are used for 2GHz TV Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS), Cable Television Relay Service (CARS) and Local Television Transmission Service (LTTS) operation. The military uses the frequencies to control satellites.

The memorandum specifies how the DOD and 2GHz BAS operators will coordinate use of the band around the 11 military uplink sites on a local basis. The sites include:

• Naval Satellite Control Network, Prospect Harbor, ME;
• New Hampshire Tracking Station, New Boston AFS, NH;
• Eastern Vehicle Check-out Facility and GPS Ground Antenna and Monitoring Station, Cape Canaveral, FL;
• Buckley AFB, CO;
• Colorado Tracking Station, Schriever AFG, CO;
• Camp Parks Communications Annex, Pleasanton, CA;
• Naval Satellite Control Network, Laguna Park, CA;
• Vandenberg Tracking Station, Vandenberg AFB, CA;
• Hawaii Tracking Station, Kaena Point, Oahu, HI; and
• Guam Tracking Stations, Anderson AFB and Naval CTS, Guam.

The memorandum covers 2GHz BAS-RO terminals within line of sight of a military uplink station. Itinerant 2GHz BAS terminals, such as those involved in electronic newsgathering, are not typically near these areas and are not covered by the memorandum. Such itinerant uses can be addressed on a case-by-case basis, according to the agreement.

The memorandum calls for documentation of seven specific operating parameters, including uplink power levels and transmission characteristics of satellite command and control communications, of the frequencies from each of the 11 sites.

The agreement calls for “real-time” or “near-real-time” coordination between the military and 2GHz BAS representatives when circumstances call for either party to operate outside the parameters for each site. It also requires 2GHz BAS operators to accommodate military needs when critical spacecraft problems arise.

The SBE, which entered into the memorandum of understanding with the department in April, made the agreement public on its Web site in mid-October.