*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 37782* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov DA 04- 1087 Report No. SPB- 206 April 23, 2004 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU INFORMATION: REPORT TO CONGRESS REGARDING THE ORBIT ACT IB Docket No. 04- 158 Comment Date: May 7, 2004 Reply Comment Date: May 14, 2004 Section 646 of the Open- Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (“ the ORBIT Act”), 47 U. S. C. 646, requires the Commission to report annually to the Committees on Commerce and International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Foreign Relations of the Senate on the progress made to achieve the objectives and carry out the purposes and provisions of ORBIT Act. The Commission issued its first report on June 15, 2000, its second report on June 15, 2001, its third report on June 14, 2002, and its fourth report on June 16, 2003. The next report is due June 15, 2004. The purpose of the Act is to promote a fully competitive global market for satellite communications services for the benefit of consumers and providers of satellite services and equipment by fully privatizing INTELSAT and Inmarsat. The Commission has previously received comment on INTELSAT’s and Inmarsat’s privatization in connection with other proceedings and prior to earlier reports to Congress. The purpose of this notice is to provide an opportunity for industry and consumers to file additional comments, particularly with respect to the impact of privatization on U. S. industry, jobs, and industry access to the global marketplace. Comments and views will be reflected in the Commission’s report and made available in full to the House and Senate committees. Comments should be filed on or before May 7, 2004 and Reply Comments on or before May 14, 2004. Comments and reply comments should be filed in IB Docket No. 04- 158. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . In completing the transmittal 1 screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by e- mail via the Internet. To obtain filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to , and should include the following words in the body of the message: "get form .” A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The Commission's contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive hand-delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. Furthermore, parties are requested to provide courtesy copies for the following Commission staff: (1) Andrea Kelly and Marilyn Simon, Satellite Division, International Bureau. One copy of each filing (together with a diskette copy, as indicated below) should also be sent to the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12 Street, S. W., CY-B4202, Washington, D. C. 20554. For further information, contact Marilyn Simon at (202) 418- 1720. -FCC- 2