[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           STRIKING SPECIFIC PRIVATIZATION CRITERIA IN ORBIT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of S. 976 introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 976) striking the specific privatization 
     criteria in ORBIT for Intelsat separated entities (New Skies) 
     and Inmarsat and other technical corrections.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read the third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 976) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 976

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

     SEC._ SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR INTELSAT SEPARATED ENTITIES AND 
                   INMARSAT MODIFIED.

       (a) Amendment.--The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 
     (47 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by striking section 623 (47 U.S.C. 763b), and
       (2) in section 624 (47 U.S.C. 763c), by striking ``In 
     securing the privatizations'' and all that follows, and 
     inserting ``In securing the privatization of Inmarsat 
     required by section 621, and thereafter, the United States 
     shall preserve space segment capacity of the GMDSS.''
       (3) in section 621(5)(D)(ii) (47 U.S.C. 763), by striking 
     ``(I)'' and by striking'', or (II) have any direct financial 
     interest'' and all that follows through the end of the 
     subparagraph, and inserting ``;''.
       (4) in section 621(5)(D)(iv) (47 D.S.C. 763), by striking 
     ``(I)'' and by striking'', or (II) have any direct financial 
     interest'' and all that follows through the end of the 
     subparagraph, and inserting''.''.
       (b) Satellite Service Report.--The Commission shall review 
     competitive market conditions with respect to domestic and 
     international satellite communications services and shall 
     include in an annual report an analysis of those conditions. 
     Such analysis shall include an identification of the number 
     and market share of competitors in domestic and international 
     satellite markets, including an analysis of whether there is 
     effective competition in the market for domestic and 
     international satellite services, and shall include a list of 
     any foreign nations in which legal or regulatory practices 
     restrict access to the market for satellite services in such 
     nation in a manner that undermines competition or favors a 
     particular competitor or set of competitors.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall be effective as of the date of enactment of this 
     section.

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