[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58689-58690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29431]



[[Page 58689]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[DA 96-1752]


Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process 
and Tariff Requirements

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 22, 1996, the International Bureau of the Federal 
Communications Commission adopted an Order on Reconsideration modifying 
the Order adopting the exclusion list in this proceeding (Exclusion 
List Order adopted on July 26, 1996). The Commission modified the 
exclusion list by removing CANUS-1 from the exclusion list consistent 
with a letter from the State Department. This decision should make the 
market for cable access more competitive, leading to lower prices for 
U.S. carriers' end users.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 22, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Hedlund, Attorney-Advisor, 
Policy and Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, 
International Bureau, (202) 418-1399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the International 
Bureau's Order adopted on October 22, 1996 and released on October 24, 
1996 (DA 96-1752). The full text of this Order is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20554. The complete text of this Order also may be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 
Inc., 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037 (202) 857-
3800. The Order also is available as a text file at http://www.fcc.gov/
Bureaus/International/Orders/da961752.txt. It is available as a 
WordPerfect file at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/
da961752.wp.

Summary of Order

    1. On February 29, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission 
adopted rules to streamline the international Section 214 authorization 
process and tariff requirements. (Report and Order, Streamlining the 
International Section 214 Authorization Process and Tariff 
Requirements, IB Docket No. 95-118, FCC 96-79, released March 13, 1996, 
61 FR 15724 (April 9, 1996)). The Report and Order adopted procedures 
for issuing global, rather than country-specific and facility-specific, 
Section 214 authorizations to qualified applicants. As part of the new 
procedures, the International Bureau was required to establish and 
maintain an exclusion list identifying restrictions on providing 
service using particular facilities or to particular countries for 
those carriers receiving a global Section 214 authorization. On July 6, 
1996, the Commission adopted the exclusion list. (Exclusion List Order 
adopted on July 26, 1996, 61 FR 50023 (September 24, 1996)).
    2. On October 22, 1996, the State Department notified the Bureau 
that it would support the removal of CANUS-1 from the exclusion list, 
provided that the conditions of the cable landing license granted to 
OPTEL are not modified. In particular, the State Department requested 
the Commission to continue to require that the licensee shall not sell 
or lease any capacity on CANUS-1, including capacity for non-common 
carrier services, to Teleglobe, its affiliates or any partnerships or 
joint ventures in which Teleglobe is a participant, unless and until 
Teleglobe, its affiliates or partnerships or joint ventures in which 
Teleglobe is a participant has requested and received prior Commission 
approval for the sale or lease of any such capacity. Further, the State 
Department requested the Commission to continue to require Teleglobe to 
obtain specific Section 214 authorization in order to acquire or use 
capacity on CANUS-1 for common carrier services.
    3. Now that the State Department supports the removal of CANUS-1 
from the exclusion list, the Commission found that there are no 
``imperative circumstances,'' as that term is used in the Streamlining 
Order, warranting the placement of the facility on the exclusion list. 
The Commission noted that the removal of CANUS-1 from the exclusion 
list does not in any way modify the conditions placed on OPTEL in the 
cable landing license. The removal of CANUS-1 from the exclusion list 
will reduce the regulatory burden on U.S. carriers wishing to obtain 
capacity on this facility. This decision should make the market for 
cable access more competitive, leading to lower prices for U.S. 
carriers' end users.

Ordering Clauses

    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to Section 1.113 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.113, the Exclusion List Order adopted on 
July 26, 1996, is modified to the extent detailed above.
    5. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Exclusion List attached to 
this order, which identifies restrictions on providing service using 
particular facilities or to particular countries for those carriers 
receiving a global Section 214 authorization, is hereby adopted.
    6. This Order is issued under 0.261 of the Commission's Rules and 
is effective upon adoption. Petitions for reconsideration under 
Sec. 1.106 or applications for review under Sec. 1.115 of the 
Commission's Rules may be filed within 30 days of the date of the 
public notice of this Order (see 47 CFR 1.4(b)(2)).

Federal Communications Commission
Diane J. Cornell,
Chief, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau.

Attachment--International Section 214 Authorizations

Exclusion List as of October 22, 1996

    The following is a list of countries and facilities not covered 
by grant of global Section 214 authority under Sec. 63.18(e)(1) of 
the Commission's Rules. 47 CFR 63.18(e)(1). In addition, the 
facilities listed shall not be used by U.S. carriers authorized 
under Sec. 63.01 of the Commission's Rules, unless the carrier's 
Section 214 authorization specifically lists the facility. Carriers 
desiring to serve countries or use facilities listed as excluded 
hereon shall file a separate Section 214 application pursuant to 
Sec. 63.18(e)(6) of the Commission's Rules.

Countries

    Cuba (applications for service to this country shall comply with 
the separate filing requirements of the Commission's Public Notice 
Report No. I-6831, dated July 27, 1993, ``FCC to Accept Applications 
for Service to Cuba.'')

Facilities

    All non-U.S. licensed Cable and Satellite Systems Except:

Foreign Cable Systems

Aden-Djibouti
APC
APCN
APHRODITE 2
ARIANNE 2
ASEAN
B-M-P
Brunei-Singapore
CADMOS
CANTAT-3
CARAC
CELTIC
China-Japan
CIOS
Denmark-Russia 1
ECFS
EMOS-1
EURAFRICA
Germany-Denmark 1
Germany-Sweden No. 4
Germany-Sweden No. 5
H-J-K
HONTAI-2
ITUR
KATTEGAT-1
Kuantan-Kota Kinabalu
LATVIA-SWEDEN

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Malaysia-Thailand
Marseille/Palermo Link
MAT-2
ODIN
PENCAN-5
R-J-K
RIOJA
SAT-2
SEA-ME-WE 2
SEA-ME-WE 3
T-V-H
TAGIDE 2
TASMAN 2
UGARIT
UK-BEL 6
UK-Denmark 4
UK-Germany 5
UK-Netherlands 12
UK-Netherlands 14
UK-Spain 4
UNISUR

    This list is subject to change by the Commission when the public 
interest requires. Before amending the list, the Commission will 
first issue a public notice giving affected parties the opportunity 
for comment and hearing on the proposed changes. The Commission will 
then release an order amending the exclusion list. This list also is 
subject to change upon issuance of an Executive Order. See 
Streamlining the Section 214 Authorization Process and Tariff 
Requirements, IB Docket No. 95-118 FCC 96-79, released March 13, 
1996.
    For additional information, contact the International Bureau's 
Telecommunications Division, Policy and Facilities Branch, (202) 
418-1460.

[FR Doc. 96-29431 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P