[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 151 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 151

To amend the International Maritime Satellite Telecommunications Act to 
  ensure the continuing provision of certain global satellite safety 
  services after the privatization of the business operations of the 
  International Mobile Satellite Organization, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 19, 1999

 Mr. Sarbanes introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the International Maritime Satellite Telecommunications Act to 
  ensure the continuing provision of certain global satellite safety 
  services after the privatization of the business operations of the 
  International Mobile Satellite Organization, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONTINUING PROVISION OF GLOBAL SATELLITE SAFETY SERVICES 
              AFTER PRIVATIZATION OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF 
              INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SATELLITE ORGANIZATION.

    (a) Authority.--The International Maritime Satellite 
Telecommunications Act (47 U.S.C. 751 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

  ``global satellite safety services after privatization of business 
                         operations of inmarsat

    ``Sec. 506. In order to ensure the continued provision of global 
maritime distress and safety satellite telecommunications services 
after the privatization of the business operations of INMARSAT, the 
President may maintain on behalf of the United States membership in the 
International Mobile Satellite Organization.''.
    (b) Repeal of Superseded Authority.--
            (1) Repeal.--That Act is further amended by striking 
        sections 502, 503, 504, and 505 (47 U.S.C. 751, 752, 753, and 
        757).
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date on which the International Mobile 
        Satellite Organization ceases to operate directly a global 
        mobile satellite system.
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