| | | Installation and Operation of Temporary-Fixed VSAT Two-Way Satellite Earth Stations |
August 2, 2002
These rules apply to the installation of all Temporary–Fixed Two-Way 0.74 m, 0.98 m and 1.2 m earth stations using the VSAT service including those mounted and operated on vehicles, such as an emergency response vehicle or a consumer recreation vehicle. A “Temporary-Fixed” earth station is, according to the FCC rules, an earth station that changes its location (coordinates) anytime during a six-month period. For the purposes of this document, all HNS earth stations using VSAT service, mounted on a vehicle or truck or otherwise used as a transportable antenna for stationary operation, are considered Temporary-Fixed Earth Stations.
The FCC has imposed the following conditions on the FCC licenses held by Hughes Network Systems when operating, installing and deploying Temporary Fixed Earth Stations and is mandatory for all installations made within the Continental United States as well as Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories. These conditions are also required by HNS for all other installed locations using the VSAT service (and may be supplemented by regulatory requirements in other jurisdictions) in order for Hughes Network Systems to meet its obligations to its space segment suppliers.
1. All Temporary-Fixed antenna installers must be HNS-Certified, and must have specifically acknowledged the requirements for Temporary-Fixed VSAT installations.
2. “Installation” is the physical mounting and wiring of the VSAT Two-Way Satellite System on a vehicle or other stationary site in order to prepare for correct operation. The installation and removal of a Temporary-Fixed antenna must only be done by an HNS-Certified Installer.
3. “Deployment” means the raising, pointing and orienting of the antenna to the communicating satellite, every time it is raised from a stowed position for use. The deployment of a Temporary-Fixed antenna must only be done by a trained installer or by a consumer using HNS-Certified deployment software.
4. Installers shall install the antennas only in locations that are not readily accessible to children and in a manner that prevents human exposure to potential radiation hazards.
5. For large vehicles with roof mounts, the height of the bottom lip of the antenna when fully deployed must be at least six feet above the ground at all times, or six feet above a surrounding surface which a person may easily access.
6. If a roof access ladder or any other means of access to the roof is installed on the vehicle, then the ladder or access must be blocked by a suitable rope or other barrier while the antenna is deployed or in operation. The installer must provide this rope or barrier directly to the end user at the time of installation and advise the user to use it at all times when the antenna is deployed or in operation. Warning signs shall also be provided by the installer to the end user to be posted on the rope or other barrier warning all persons not to attempt to access the roof of the vehicle while the antenna is deployed or in operation.
7. Warning signs shall be posted at prominent locations on the antenna informing all persons of the danger of harmful radiation from the antenna while it is deployed or in operation.
8. The antenna may only be operated when the vehicle is stationary. Suitable system safeguards will be provided to ensure that the antenna cannot operate when the vehicle is in motion, e.g. transmitter is disabled when the ignition key is turned, or when the GPS senses a change of direction greater than one degree.
9. The installer must inform the end user that the vehicle must be stabilized during the transmission, to prevent movement of the vehicle for any reason, including movement of persons on or off the vehicle, or high winds. The installer shall advise the end user how to appropriately stabilize their vehicle.
10. Installers shall be liable for all damages if they fail to comply with the mandatory FCC License conditions included in the HNS licenses for Temporary-Fixed Earth Stations. This includes, but is not limited to damages caused by improper installation or due to the failure to provide required information to the end user.
11. Installers and end users will be deemed directly liable for any damages resulting from their failure to comply with the above rules. These rules are meant to ensure that extraordinary precautions and measures are used to prevent satellite interference or exposure to harmful radiation. HNS reserves the rights to immediately suspend without liability or previous notice the operation of the earth station upon detection of a deviation from its installation or operational requirements until the deviation is corrected. In addition, HNS reserves the right to suspend or cancel the Installer Certificate of any installer who has not fully complied with these installation requirements.
12. Further, the installer and end user may be directly liable for any damages resulting from any change undertaken by either of them, including but not limited to, any modification of any part of the hardware, software, specific operational frequencies, the authorized satellite, or the size or other characteristics of the antenna supplied to them by HNS or HNS’ authorized representatives.All customers must print out and sign this before installation. | _________________________________________ | ______________ | | Customer Name | Date | | _________________________________________ | | | Customer Signature | |
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