[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27166]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 99-2148]


International Bureau To Hold Public Forum on Submarine Cable 
Landing Licenses

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces a public forum on Submarine Cable 
Landing Licenses to be held by the International Bureau on November 8, 
1999. The Commission is making this announcement to provide an 
opportunity for the public to identify issues that should be addressed 
in an upcoming proceeding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Nightingale, Attorney-
Advisor, Policy and Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, 
International Bureau, (202) 418-2352 or Breck Blalcok at (202) 418-
0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Released: October 8, 1999.
    On November 8, 1999, from 3:00-5:00 pm, the International Bureau 
will hold a public forum to provide an opportunity for the public to 
identify issues the Commission should address in its upcoming 
proceeding to examine how its policies regarding licensing submarine 
cables might best promote competition and benefit consumers. The 
information we gather from this public forum may assist the Commission 
in its 2000 Biennial Regulatory Review.
    The forum is open to the public and will be at the Federal 
Communications Commission Headquarters, 445 12th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room (Room TW-C305). The 
Bureau encourages users as well as facilities and service providers to 
attend.
    The Bureau intends that this public forum will provide an 
opportunity to raise, but not necessarily debate, issues related to the 
Commission's regulation of submarine cables. The Bureau does not intend 
that the public forum will include a discussion of the merits of 
pending Commission proceedings, such as pending proceedings involving 
applications for a cable landing license. Appropriate topics include, 
but are not limited to, the following:
     Streamlining or simplifying the Commission's cable landing 
license application and review process.

--How can the Commission expedite the process, reduce burdens on 
applicants and the Commission, and minimize the information the 
Commission asks for in applications?

     Do the conditions routinely imposed on licenses remain 
necessary?
     What sort of ``ownership'' requires an entity to be a 
licensee on a cable landing license, and how much of a cable system 
must be owned by licensees?

--Should the Commission consider separately ownership of backhaul and 
of landing stations?
    Common carrier vs. non-common carrier cable landing licenses.
--Should the Commission maintain the distinction and what should the 
consequences be?

     Structural/ownership issues raised by certain cable 
systems.

--Do certain ownership structures raise competitive problems?
--How can the Commission address these problems?
--In identifying ownership structures that may raise competitive 
concerns, how does the Commission draw the line?
--Does the Commission need to define ``consortium''?
--Does the corporate governance over certain cable systems raise 
competitive problems?

     Under what circumstances, if any, should price 
differentials, especially volume discounts, be restricted?
     How should the Commission address issues of competitive 
access to backhaul?
     Are there other competitive issues that the Commission 
should address in its upcoming proceeding?
     Are there other issues the Commission should address 
related to submarine cables?
    The purpose of the forum is not to discuss the merits of pending 
Commission proceedings (including cable landing license applications 
pending before the Commission) and is not otherwise part of a pending 
Commission proceeding. As such, the forum is not subject to the 
Commission's ex parte rules.
    To the extent a participant discusses the merits of a pending 
proceeding, the ex parte rules will apply with respect to the 
particular discussion.
    The Bureau invites parties wishing to discuss competition issues in 
depth to meet with the staff individually. The Bureau encourages users 
as well as facilities and service providers to meet with Bureau staff. 
Please contact Elizabeth Nightingale of the Bureau's Telecommunications 
Division, at 202-418-2352, to make arrangements. Any party wishing to 
make a formal presentation (no longer than 10 minutes) at the public 
forum should send an outline of the presentation to Elizabeth 
Nightingale. Parties also are welcome to make written submissions in 
lieu of speaking at the forum. Outlines of oral presentations and 
written submissions should be sent to Elizabeth Nightingale no later 
than October 29, either via facsimile to the Bureau's 
Telecommunications Division at (202) 418-2824, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].
    For information on obtaining a videotape of the forum, please 
contact the Commission's Audio-Visual Office at (202) 418-0460. Audio 
and video tapes of the forum may also be purchased from Infocus, 341 
Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100 
or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-27166 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P