*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 10561.doc* 1 PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission News Media information: 202- 418- 0400 445 12th St., S. W. Fax- On- Demand 202- 418- 2830 Washington, DC 20554 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov (or ftp. fcc. gov) TTY (202) 418- 2555 DA 01- 1817 Report No. SPB- 173 July 30, 2001 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH INFORMATION: Ex Parte Status of Pending Loral Modification Applications SAT- MOD- 19991101- 00109 SAT- MOD- 19991102- 00106 With this Public Notice, we redesignate the ex parte status of the two applications filed by Loral Space and Communications Ltd. (Loral) cited above. Loral is currently authorized to launch and operate Telstar 8, formerly known as Loral 2, a hybrid C/ Ku- band satellite at the 77° W. L. orbit location. 1 Telstar 8 is currently under construction. In one of its pending modification applications, SAT- MOD- 19991102- 00106, Loral requests authority to modify its Telstar 8 authorization from the 77° W. L. to the 89° W. L. orbit location, and to add Ka- band capacity to the satellite. In its other modification application, SAT- MOD- 19991101- 00109, Loral seeks authority to relocate Telstar 4, a hybrid C/ Ku- band satellite currently operating at 89° W. L., to 77° W. L. Loral's predecessor in interest, Orion Network Systems, Inc., was authorized to operate a Ka- band satellite system at the 89° W. L. orbit location in the First Ka- band Processing Round in 1997. Orion Network Systems, Inc., Order and Authorization, 12 FCC Rcd 23027 (Int'l Bur. 1997). In March 1999, we redesignated the Second Ka- band Processing Round as "permit but disclose" for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. We concluded that redesignation would be in the public interest because of the intricate legal and technical issues raised by the applications in the Second Ka- band Processing Round. See Satellite Policy Branch Information, Ka- Band Satellite Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00012 (released Mar. 16, 1999), at 11. Later, because of the interrelated nature of the First and Second Ka- band Processing Rounds, we found that it was in the public interest to redesignate the ex parte 1 Assignment of Orbital Locations to Space Stations in the Domestic Fixed Satellite Service, Order and Authorizations, 11 FCC Rcd 13788, 13797 (Int'l Bur., 1996) (1996 Orbital Assignment Order). 1 2 status of the first round Ka- band applications from a restricted to a permit- but- disclose proceeding. See International Bureau Satellite Policy Branch Information, Ex Parte Status of Ka- Band Application Proceedings, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00012 (released Sept. 29, 2000). Because the two pending Loral modification applications are interrelated with one of the licenses granted in the First Ka- band Processing Round, we now conclude that it is in the public interest to redesignate the ex parte status of these modification applications from a restricted to a permit- but- disclose proceeding. Accordingly, ex parte presentations relating to either of the two pending Loral modification applications cited above are subject to the disclosure requirements set forth in Section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules. 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Sections 4( i) and 303 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U. S. C. §§ 154( i), 303; and pursuant to Sections 0.261, and 1.1200( a) of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 0.261, 1.1200( a). For further information, contact the Satellite and Radiocommunication Division of the International Bureau, (202) 418- 0719. 2