As satellites age or are unable to maintain their proper orbital position, they are eventually retired from service and replaced by newer satellites. The leasing of transponder time is highly competitive and prices vary based on a number of criteria. Once a transponder is leased for the broadcast of any television program, the satellite must first receive the signal to be broadcast. This signal comes from a large earth-based satellite dish called an uplink. The uplink points the dish towards the satellite to be used, then broadcasts a very powerful signal 22,300 miles up towards that satellite.
Costs associated with the operation of an uplink are very high.
Therefore, uplinks are not common. In Utah, for instance, there are only a handful of operating uplinks. USOE does not have uplink capability, but a signal can be transmitted from USOE to an uplink at another location. When the satellite receives the prearranged signal from a designated uplink, the signal is simply rebroadcast back down towards the surface of the earth. Because the satellite is so high into orbit, the signal can reach potentially large portions of the earth's surface.