PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON, DC 20554 __________________________________________________ News media Information 202/418-0500. Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222. Report No. SPB-53 July 17, 1996 SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH INFORMATION: APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR FILING The applications listed below have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any of the applications if, upon further examination, it is determined the application is not in conformance with the Commission's Rules or its policies. Petitions, oppositions and other pleadings filed in response to this notice should conform to Section 25.154 of the Commission's rules, unless otherwise noted. 47 C.F.R.  25.154. Applications Accepted for Filing: EchoStar Satellite Corporation File No. 139-SAT-STA-96 EchoStar Satellite Corporation has filed a Request for an Extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue operating the odd-numbered channels (numbers 1-31) of its Direct Broadcast Satellite systems at 119 W.L. Directsat Corporation File No. 138-SAT-STA-96 Directsat Corporation has filed a Request for Special Temporary Authority to operate the eastern satellite of its Direct Broadcast Satellite systems on channels 2-32 (even-numbered) at 119 W.L. EarthWatch, Inc. File No. 137-SAT-ML-96 EarthWatch Incorporated has filed an application for modification of its authorization to construct, launch and operate a remote sensing satellite system. EarthWatch is authorized to construct, launch and operate a two satellite system and is seeking authority to construct, launch and operate two additional satellites. The additional satellites will be similar to the authorized satellites with certain technical modifications which include: using a 4.2 MHz channel in the 8025 - 8400 MHz band for downlink telemetry transmissions; using a 30 KHz channel in the 2025 - 2110 MHz band for uplink telemetry transmission; a 350 MHz bandwidth for the space-to-earth data downlink; and a design life of five years. Construction is expected to commence in the fall 1996, completion of construction is scheduled for December 1997, with launch in January 1998 and operations to begin in February 1998. GE American Communications, Inc. File No. 135-SAT-MP/ML-96 GE American Communications, Inc. has filed an application seeking modification of the milestone schedule for its GE-1 satellite. GE Americom requests an extension, until November 1996, to complete construction of the GE-1 satellite and an extension until December 1996 to launch GE-1. COMSAT General Corporation File No. 134-SAT-STA-96 COMSAT General Corporation requests an extension of special temporary authority to continue to provide service via the COMSTAR D-4 satellite to and from ships in U.S. coastal waters and the Caribbean region. Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. File No. 133-SAT-AMEND-96 Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. has filed an amendment to its pending application for authority to operate the Brasilsat A1 satellite to provide U.S. service. (See File No. 152-SAT-ITC-95) By this amendment, Hughes seeks authority to operate the Brasilsat A1 satellite at 79 W.L. location rather than 63 W.L. GE American Communications, Inc. File No. 132-SAT-STA-96 GE Americom has filed a request for an extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue operating its Satcom K-1 satellite beyond its ten-year license term. Satcom K-1 was placed into service January 29, 1986. GE Americom requested an STA on November 21, 1995 (see File No. 35-SAT-STA-96), which was unopposed, and is seeking an extension for the maximum statutory period of six months to continue to provide service over Satcom K-1, through January 29, 1997. COMSAT General Corporation File Nos. 130-SAT-STA-96 COMSAT General Corporation has filed a request for an extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue operating its COMSTAR D-4 satellite using the Comsat Maneuver. GE American Communications, Inc. File No. 128-SAT-STA-96 GE Americom has filed a request for an extension of Special Temporary Authority to continue operating its Satcom K-2 satellite beyond its ten-year license term. Satcom K-2 was placed into service December 19, 1985. GE Americom requested an STA on November 21, 1995 (see File No. 36-SAT- STA-96), which was unopposed, and is seeking an extension for the maximum statutory period of six months to continue to provide service over Satcom K-2, through December 19, 1996. Loral Space & Communications, Ltd. 123/124-SAT-MP-96 Loral Space & Communications, Ltd. has filed applications to modify its Loral 1 and Loral 2 space station authorizations. On May 7, 1996, Loral Space was authorized to construct, launch and operate two satellite space stations to be located at 79 W.L. and 128 W.L. (See Assignment of Orbital Locations to Space Stations in the Domestic Fixed Satellite Service, DA 96-713 (May 7, 1996)). Loral Space proposes to modify the mass and power budgets, service area coverage and antenna configuration in order to provide domestic and international services on these satellites. Columbia Communications Corp. 114/115-SAT-AMEND-96 Columbia Communications Corporation has filed amendments to its pending applications for authority to construct, launch and operate communications satellites at 172 E.L. and 47 W.L. (see File Nos. 44- SAT-P/LA-96 and 3-SAT-P/LA-96, respectively). Columbia supplements the applications and requests waivers of the single stage financial standard adopted in its Report and Order in IB Docket No. 95-41. See Amendment to the Commission's Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed Satellites and Separate International Satellite Systems, FCC 96-14 (January 22, 1996). * * * * * * INFORMATIVE: E-SAT, Inc. File No. 78-SAT-AMEND-96 By letter dated June 28, 1996, E-SAT, Inc. withdrew the referenced amendment, filed February 23, 1996. E-SAT had filed the amendment to its Second Round NVNG application, File No. 26-SAT-P/LA- 95. - FCC -