[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6496-6497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3218]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket Nos. 97-142, 95-22, 96-111; CC Docket No. 93-23; RM-7931; 
ISP-92-007; FCC 98-10]


Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Market and 
Non-U.S.-Licensed Satellites Providing Domestic and International 
Service in the United States

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission published in the Federal 
Register of December 4, 1997, a summary of a Report and Order that it 
adopted on November 25, 1997, that adopted a new standard for foreign

[[Page 6497]]

participation in the U.S. satellite services market consistent with the 
United States' obligations under the WTO Basic Telecom Agreement, 62 FR 
64167. Certain of the rules adopted in that order contained new or 
modified information collections. This document announces the effective 
date of those rules.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The amendments to Secs. 25.113, 25.115, 25.130, 25.131, 
and 25.137, published at 62 FR 64167, will become effective on February 
9, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Campbell or Linda Haller at 
(202) 418-0719.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. This is a summary of the Commission's 
order, FCC 98-10, adopted and released January 29, 1998. The complete 
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., and also may be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 
Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, telephone: 202-857-
3800; fax: 202-857-3805.
    2. On November 25, 1997, the Commission adopted order FCC 97-398 in 
IB Docket Nos. 97-142 and 95-22, and the Commission adopted order FCC 
97-399 in IB Docket No. 96-111, CC Docket No. 93-23, RM-7931, and File 
No. ISP-92-007. Summaries of both orders were published in the Federal 
Register. See 62 FR 64741 (Dec. 9, 1997) (FCC 97-398); 62 FR 64167 
(Dec. 4, 1997) (FCC 97-399). In each of those orders, the Commission 
stated that the policies, rules, and requirements would take effect 
thirty days after publication in the Federal Register or in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3) and 44 U.S.C. 3507 and that the Commission 
would publish a document at a later date announcing the effective date. 
The Commission also reserved the right to reconsider the effective 
dates if the WTO Basic Telecom Agreement did not take effect on January 
1, 1998. The WTO Basic Telecom Agreement will enter into force on 
February 5, 1998.
    3. Certain of the amendments to the Commission's rules imposed new 
or modified information collection requirements. The new or modified 
information collection requirements imposed in FCC 97-398 were approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on January 21, 1998. See 
OMB No. 3060-0686. The Commission expects to receive OMB approval of 
the new or modified information collection requirements imposed in FCC 
97-399 before February 9, 1998.
    4. Because of congressional review procedures required by the 
Contract with America Advancement Act, 5 U.S.C. 801-808, the rules 
adopted in the Foreign Participation Order, FCC 97-398, cannot become 
effective before February 9, 1998. In FR Doc. No. 98-2852, 63 FR 5743 
(Feb. 4, 1998), the Commission announced that February 9, 1998, would 
be the effective date of the rules adopted in FCC 97-398. The 
Commission finds that, to aid consistent application of the new 
policies, it would serve the public interest for the rules adopted in 
both orders to become effective simultaneously. We therefore find that 
it serves the public interest for the rules adopted in FCC 97-399 to 
become effective on February 9, 1998.
    5. Therefore, it is ordered that the policies, rules, and 
requirements established in FCC 97-399 shall take effect on February 9, 
1998, following approval by the Office of Management and Budget. If OMB 
approval is not received by February 9, a notice will be published in 
the Federal Register stating that the information collections are not 
yet in effect.
    6. This publication satisfies our statement that the Commission 
would publish a document announcing the effective date of the rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-3218 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P