[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1331]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 20, 1994]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[FCC 93-536; File No. ISP-93-010]

 

Permissible Services of U.S.-Licensed International 
Communications Satellite Systems Separate From the International 
Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has further modified its separate satellite 
systems policy by permitting the interconnection to the public 
switched network of up to 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per 
satellite provided over international separate satellite systems 
for the provision of public switched service.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 20, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John M. Coles, Attorney, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 632-7265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    In the Matter of Permissible Services of U.S.-Licensed 
International Communications Satellite Systems Separate from the 
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT).

Order

    Adopted: December 6, 1993; Released: January 6, 1994.

    By the Commission: Chairman Hundt not participating.

    1. The Commission is hereby implementing additional changes in the 
scope of permissible operations of international separate satellite 
systems. Our action herein is in response to actions taken by INTELSAT 
and the Executive Branch in further expanding the scope of operation of 
international separate satellite systems.
    2. At is meeting held November 3-6, 1992, the INTELSAT Assembly of 
Parties determined that the provision of switched services upon to the 
level of 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite over separate 
international satellite systems would not cause significant economic 
harm to the INTELSAT system. Consistent with INTELSAT's actions, the 
Executive Branch has further modified the separate satellite systems 
policy. In a letter dated January 8, 1993, the Executive Branch 
notified the Commission that it had modified some of the criteria 
articulated in the November 27, 1991 letter which set forth the scope 
of permissible services that could then be provided over separate 
systems (including 100 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite 
system) and further modified the Separate Systems policy to permit the 
provision of private line circuits interconnected to the public 
switched network (PSN).\1\ The Executive Branch has now determined that 
interconnection of international separate satellite systems to the PSN 
at a level up to 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite for 
the provision of public switched services is consistent with U.S. 
telecommunications and foreign policy interests.\2\ In light of these 
circumstances, we find that permitting U.S. separate satellite systems 
to provide up to 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite 
interconnected with the PSN for the provision of public switched 
services will serve the public interest.
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    \1\Letter dated January 8, 1993 from Bradley P. Holmes, United 
States Coordinator for International Communications and Information 
Policy, Department of State and Gregory L. Chapados, Assistant 
Secretary for Communications and Information, Department of Commerce 
to FCC Chairman Alfred C. Sikes which references the November 27, 
1991 letter from James Baker, Secretary of State and Robert 
Mosbacher, Secretary of Commerce to FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes. See 
Permissible Services of U.S. Licensed International Communications 
Satellite Systems Separate from the International Telecommunications 
Satellite Organization (INTELSAT), 7 FCC Rcd 2313 (1992), recon 
dismissed, 8 FCC Rcd 5122 (1993) (Separate Systems Modification 
order), which implemented the criteria set forth in the Executive 
Branch's November 27, 1991 letter.
    \2\Prior to this modification, international separate satellite 
systems could provide up to 100 64-kbps equivalent circuits per 
system. See letter dated December 14, 1990 from Thomas J. Murrin, 
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Deputy 
Secretary of State to FCC Chairman Alfred C. Sikes.
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    3. Accordingly, It is ordered That, effective upon publication in 
the Federal Register,\3\ U.S. separate satellite systems may now 
provide up to 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite for the 
provision of public switched services.\4\
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    \3\See 5 U.S.C. 553 (a)(1) (exempting foreign affairs matters) 
and 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(1) (a rule relieving a restriction not subject 
to 30-day effective date requirement).
    \4\In light of the foreign policy objectives underlying the 
establishment of international separate satellite systems, as 
reflected in the January 8 letter, modification of the level of 
switched circuits that can be provided via a separate satellite 
system from the current 100 64-kbps equivalent circuits per system 
to 1,250 64-kbps equivalent circuits per satellite can be effected 
without notice and comment. See 5 U.S.C. 553 (a)(1).
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    4. It is further ordered That authority is delegated to the Chief, 
Common Carrier Bureau to implement the change to 1,250 64-kbps 
equivalent circuits per satellite, as well as future changes in the 
number circuits that may be interconnected with the PSN, subject to 
satisfaction of U.S. obligations under the INTELSAT Agreement.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-1331 Filed 1-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M