*Pages 1--7 from C:\Pdf2Text\Ready4Text_in\pdf\37919.pdf* PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th STREET S. W. WASHINGTON D. C. 20554 News media information 202- 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202- 418- 2830; Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov (or ftp. fcc. gov) TTY (202) 418- 2555 DA No. 04- 1173 Thursday April 29, 2004 TEL- 00785 Report No. Section 214 Applications (47 C. F. R. § 63.18); Cable Landing License Applications (47 C. F. R. § 1.767); Requests to Authorize Switched Services over Private Lines (47 C. F. R. § 63.16); Section 310( b)( 4) Requests INTERNATIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS GRANTED The following applications have been granted pursuant to the Commission’s streamlined processing procedures set forth in Section 63.12 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 63.12, other provisions of the Commission’s rules, or procedures set forth in an earlier public notice listing applications accepted for filing. Unless otherwise noted, these grants authorize the applicants (1) to become a facilities- based international common carrier subject to 47 C. F. R. § 63.22; and/ or (2) to become a resale- based international common carrier subject to 47 C. F. R. § 63.23; or (3) to exceed the 25 percent foreign ownership benchmark applicable to common carrier radio licensees under 47 U. S. C. § 310( b)( 4). Grants under Section 63.16 and certain grants under Section 63.18 also authorize carriers generally to use their authorized private lines to provide switched services (ISR) between the United States and particular international points pursuant to 47 C. F. R. § 63.16. See also 47 C. F. R. §§ 63.22( e), 63.23( d). This public notice serves as each newly authorized carrier’s Section 214 certificate. It contains general and specific conditions, which are set forth below. Newly authorized carriers should carefully review the terms and conditions of their authorizations. These are set forth in detail below and in Sections 63.21, 63.22, and 63.23 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 63.21-. 23. Failure to comply with general or specific conditions of an authorization, or with other relevant Commission rules and policies, could result in fines and forfeitures. The Commission most recently amended its rules applicable to international telecommunications common carriers in 2000 Biennial Regulatory Review, Policy and Rules Concerning the International, Interexchange Marketplace, FCC 01- 93, released, March 20, 2001, 66 Fed. Reg. 16874 (Mar. 28, 2001). See also IB Docket No. 97- 142, Rules and Policies on Foreign Participation in the U. S. Telecommunications Market, Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 18158 (2000); IB Docket No. 98- 118, Review of International Common Carrier Regulations, FCC 99- 51, released March 23, 1999, 64 Fed. Reg. 19,057 (Apr. 19, 1999) and in IB Docket Nos. 98- 148, 95- 22, CC Docket No. 90- 337 (Phase II), 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review -Reform of the International Settlements Policy and Associated Filing Requirements, FCC 99- 73, released May 6, 1999, 64 Fed. Reg. 34, 734 (June 29, 1999). An updated version of Sections 63.09–. 24 of the rules, and other related sections, is available at http:// www. fcc. gov/ ib/ td/ pf/ telecomrules. html. GlobalReach International Inc ITC- 214- 20040315- 00106 E Global or Limited Global Facilities- Based Service Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 Service( s): Application for authority to provide facilities- based service in accordance with Section 63.18( e)( 1) of the rules. Grant of Authority International Telecommunications Certificate Page 1 of 7 1 Motion Telecom, Inc. ITC- 214- 20040401- 00129 E Global or Limited Global Resale Service Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 Service( s): Application for authority to provide service in accordance with Section 63.18( e)( 2) of the rules. Grant of Authority International Telecommunications Certificate BND Telecom, Inc. ITC- 214- 20040401- 00130 E Global or Limited Global Resale Service Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 Service( s): Application for authority to provide service in accordance with Section 63.18( e)( 2) of the rules. Grant of Authority International Telecommunications Certificate Ozark Cellular Company, LLC ITC- ASG- 20040329- 00156 P Date of Action: 04/ 28/ 2004 TO: Notification filed March 29, 2004, of the pro forma assignment of international section 214 authorization, ITC- 214- 20031017- 00482, held by Ozark Cellular Corporation (Ozark Corporation) to Ozark Cellular Company, LLC (Ozark LLC). On December 15, 2003, Ozark Corporation merged with Ozark LLC, which was the surviving entity. At the time of the merger, both entities were wholly- owned indirect subsidiaries of SBC Communications Inc. Ozark Cellular Corporation Grant of Authority FROM: Current Licensee: Ozark Cellular Company, LLC Ozark Cellular Corporation Assignment Startec Global Operating Company, Debtor- in- Possession ITC- T/ C- 20020925- 00529 P Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 TO: Application for consent to transfer control of international section214 authorizations (File Nos. ITC- 89- 099 and ITC- 97- 379) held by Startec Global Operating Company, Debtor- in- Possession, from Startec Global Communications Corporation, Debtor- in- Possession, to Allied Capital Corporation. This authorization is without prejudice to the Commission's action on any other related pending application( s). Startec Global Communications Corporation, Debtor- in- Possession Grant of Authority FROM: Current Licensee: Allied Capital Corporation Startec Global Operating Company, Debtor- in- Possession Transfer of Control Page 2 of 7 2 Guam Cable Group, Inc. ITC- T/ C- 20040310- 00131 P Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 TO: Application to transfer control of international section 214 authorizations (( ITC- 91- 171, ITC- 93- 047, ITC- 96- 432, ITC- 214- 20030404- 00169), including authority to operate the TPC- 5 undersea cable network on a common carrier basis (ITC- 95- 394)), held by Guam Cable Group Inc., from Startec Global Communications Corporation, Debtor- in- Possession (" Startec Parent") to Allied Capital Corporation (" Allied"). Guam Cable operates as a joint venture between Startec Parent's wholly- owned subsidiary, Startec Global Operating Company, Debtor- in- Possession (" Startec Operating"), and EC Communications, LLC (" ECC"). Startec Operating and ECC each own 50% of the outstanding common stock of, and share board and executive officer control of, Guam Cable. Pursuant to a modified plan of reorganization for Startec Parent and its subsidiaries, approved by the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Startec Parent proposes to cancel all its existing shares of authorized stock and to issue new shares of common stock, 68.5% of which would be held by Allied, a publicly- traded Maryland corporation. Allied would also select 5 of the 7 members of Startec Parent's board of directors. The plan of reorganization also provides for the issuance of common stock options to "eligible employees," that, if exercised, would dilute Allied's share of common stock to 58.22%. Applicants state that, upon consummation of the proposed transaction, Startec Operating would continue to be a wholly- owned subsidiary of Startec Parent and that there would be no change in the relationship between Startec Operating, Guam Cable, and ECC. This authorization is without prejudice to the Commission's action on any other related pending application( s). Startec Global Communications Corporation, Debtor- in- Possession Grant of Authority FROM: Current Licensee: Allied Capital Corporation Guam Cable Group, Inc. Transfer of Control Focal Telecommunications Corporation ITC- T/ C- 20040317- 00121 E Date of Action: 04/ 23/ 2004 TO: Application for consent to transfer control of the international section 214 authorization, ITC- 97- 341, held by Focal Telecommunications Corporation (Focal Telecommunications) from its indirect 100 percent parent company, Focal Communications Corporation (Focal), to Corvis Corporation (Corvis). Upon consummation of the proposed transaction, Focal and Focal Telecommunications will become direct and indirect wholly- owned subsidiaries, respectively, of Corvis. This authorization is without prejudice to the Commission's action on any other related pending application( s). Focal Communications Corporation Grant of Authority FROM: Current Licensee: Corvis Corporation Focal Telecommunications Corporation Transfer of Control Page 3 of 7 3 FLAG Telecom Group Limited SCL- ASG- 20040329- 00009 E Date of Action: 04/ 26/ 2004 TO: Application for authority to assign, on a pro forma basis, the cable landing license for the FLAG Atlantic- 1 cable system (SCL- LIC- 19990301- 00005, extending between the United States and the United Kingdom and France) held by FLAG Telecom Global Network Limited (" Flag Global") to a new entity to be called FLAG Telecom Group Limited (" New FTGL). FLAG Global and its current 100 percent parent, FLAG Telecom Group Limited (" FTGL"), are both organized under the laws of Bermuda. The proposed transaction will take the form of an amalgamation, an operation of Bermuda law. Upon amalgamation, FTGL and three of its direct subsidiaries, including FLAG Global, will cease to exist and will, at the same time, become one entity. That entity will also be called FLAG Telecom Group Limited (" New FTGL"), which will be organized under the laws of Bermuda. Under Bermuda law, New FTGL will be the automatic legal successor to all the agreements, rights and obligations, and relevant assets and liabilities previously related to the entities involved in the amalgamation. New FTGL, like FTGL currently, will be a direct wholly- owned subsidiary of Reliance Gateway Net Limited (" Reliance'), an Indian company. The Commission approved Reliance's acquisition of an indirect controlling interest in FLAG Global in File No. SCL- T/ C- 20031024- 00031. That transaction was consummated on January 12, 2004. FLAG Telecom Global Network Limited Grant of Authority FROM: Current Licensee: FLAG Telecom Group Limited FLAG Telecom Global Network Limited Assignment SURRENDER ITC- 214- 20030210- 00065 ITG, Inc. By letter dated March 30, 2004, ITG, Inc. notified the Commission of the surrender of its Section 214 authority. Page 4 of 7 4 CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO INTERNATIONAL SECTION 214 AUTHORIZATIONS (1) These authorizations are subject to the Exclusion List for International Section 214 Authorizations, which identifies restrictions on providing service to particular countries or using particular facilities. The most recent Exclusion List is attached to this Public Notice. The list applies to all U. S. international carriers, including those that have previously received global or limited global Section 214 authority, whether by streamlined grant or specific written order. Carriers are advised that the attached Exclusion List is subject to amendment at any time pursuant to the procedures set forth in Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process and Tariff Requirements, IB Docket No. 95- 118, 11 FCC Rcd 12884 (1996), para. 18. A copy of the current Exclusion List will be maintained in the FCC Reference and Information Center and will be available at http:// www. fcc. gov/ ib/ td/ pf/ exclusionlist. html. It also will be attached to each Public Notice that grants international Section 214 authority. (2) The export of telecommunications services and related payments to countries that are subject to economic sanctions may be restricted. For information concerning current restrictions, call the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U. S. Department of the Treasury, (202) 622- 2520. (3) Carriers shall comply with the requirements of Section 63.11 of the Commission's rules, which requires notification by, and in certain circumstances prior notification by, U. S. carriers acquiring an affiliation with foreign carriers. A carrier that acquires an affiliation with a foreign carrier will be subject to possible reclassification as a dominant carrier on an affiliated route pursuant to the provisions of Section 63.10 of the rules. The Commission recently amended Section 63.11 of the rules in its Order on Reconsideration in IB Docket No. 97- 142, 15 FCC Rcd 18158 (2000). (4) Carriers shall comply with the Commission's International Settlements Policy and associated filing requirements contained in Sections 43.51 and 64.1001 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 43.51, 64.1001. The Commission modified these requirements most recently in 2000 Biennial Regulatory Review, Policy and Rules Concerning the International, Interexchange Marketplace, FCC 01- 93, released, March 20, 2001, 66 Fed. Reg. 16874 (Mar. 28, 2001). See also 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review - Reform of the International Settlements Policy and Associated Filing Requirements, IB Docket Nos. 98- 148, 95- 22, CC Docket No. 90- 337 (Phase II), FCC 99- 73 (rel. May 6, 1999). In addition, any carrier interconnecting private lines to the U. S. public switched network at its switch, including any switch in which the carrier obtains capacity either through lease or otherwise, shall file annually with the Chief, International Bureau, a certified statement containing, on a country- specific basis, the number and type (e. g., 64 kbps circuits) of private lines interconnected in such manner. The Commission will treat the country of origin information as confidential. Carriers need not file their contracts for interconnection unless the Commission specifically requests. Carriers shall file their annual report on February 1 (covering international private lines interconnected during the preceding January 1 to December 31 period) of each year. International private lines to countries for which the Commission has authorized the provision of switched basic services over private lines at any time during a particular reporting period are exempt from this requirement. See 47 C. F. R. § 43.51( d). (5) Carriers authorized to provide private line service either on a facilities or resale basis are limited to the provision of such private line service only between the United States and those foreign points covered by their referenced applications for Section 214 authority. In addition, the carriers may not -- and their tariffs must state that their customers may not -- connect their private lines to the public switched network at either the U. S. or foreign end, or both, for the provision of international switched basic services, unless the Commission has authorized the provision of switched services over private lines to the particular country at the foreign end of the private line or the carrier is exchanging switched traffic with a foreign carrier that the Commission has determined lacks market power in the country at the foreign end of the private line. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 63.16, 63.22( e), 63.23( d). A foreign carrier lacks market power for purposes of this rule if it does not appear on the Commission list of foreign carriers that do not qualify for the presumption that they lack market power in particular foreign points. This list is available at http:// www. fcc. gov/ Bureaus/ International/ Public_ Notices/ 1999/ da990809. txt. See generally 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review - Reform of the International Settlements Policy and Associated Filing Requirements, IB Docket Nos. 98- 148, 95- 22, CC Docket No. 90- 337 (Phase II), FCC 99- 73 (rel. May 6, 1999), paras. 12- 15, 102- 109. (6) The Commission has authorized the provision of switched basic services via facilities- based or resold private lines between the United States and the following foreign points: Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Spain, Finland, Israel, Singapore, Netherlands Antilles, Poland, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Macau, Hungary, Philippines, Greece, Uruguay, Brunei, Trinidad & Tobago, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Botswana, Costa Rica, South Africa, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent, Antigua, Malaysia, Thailand, Belize, Panama, Guatemala, Venezuela, Bahrain, South Korea, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Kuwait, Jordan, Paraguay, Croatia, Egypt, Zambia, Ecuador, Barbados, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Turkey, Peru, Morocco, Ghana, Bolivia, Guyana, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Nigeria, Page 5 of 7 5 Salvador, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Turkey, Peru, Morocco, Ghana, Bolivia, Guyana, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Guniea, Suriname, and Fiji Islands. (7) Carriers may engage in "switched hubbing" to countries for which the Commission has not authorized the provision of switched basic services over private lines consistent with Section 63.17( b) of the rules. (8) Carriers may provide U. S. inbound or outbound switched basic service via their authorized private lines extending between or among the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Spain, Finland, Israel, Singapore, Netherlands Antilles, Poland, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Macau, Hungary, Philippines, Greece, Uruguay, Brunei, Trinidad & Tobago, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Botswana, Costa Rica, South Africa, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent, Antigua, Malaysia, Thailand, Belize, Panama, Guatemala, Venezuela, Bahrain, South Korea, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Kuwait, Jordan, Paraguay, Croatia, Egypt, Zambia, Ecuador, Barbados, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Taiwan, Nicaragua, Turkey, Peru, Morocco, Ghana, Bolivia, Guyana, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Mauritius, and New Caledonia, Guniea, Suriname, and Fiji Islands. (9) Carriers shall comply with the "No Special Concessions" rule, Section 63.14, 47 C. F. R. § 63.14. (10) Carriers regulated as dominant for the provision of a particular communications service on a particular route for any reason other than a foreign carrier affiliation under Section 63.10 of the rules shall file tariffs pursuant to Section 203 of the Communications Act, as amended, 47 U. S. C. § 203, and Part 61 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. Part 61. Except as specified in Section 20.15 with respect to commercial mobile radio service providers, carriers regulated as non- dominant, as defined in Section 61.3, and providing detariffed international services pursuant to Section 61.19 must comply with all applicable public disclosure and maintenance of information requirements in Sections 42.10 and 42.11. These non- dominant carriers may continue filing new or revised international tariffs for mass market services until January 28, 2002, when all tariffs, with limited exceptions, must be cancelled. Carriers may not file any new or revised contract tariffs or tariffs for other long- term international service arrangements. See 2000 Biennial Regulatory Review, Policy and Rules Concerning the International, Interexchange Marketplace, FCC 01- 93, released March 20, 2001, 66 Fed. Reg. 16874 (Mar. 28, 2001). (11) Carriers shall file the annual reports of overseas telecommunications traffic required by Section 43.61( a). Carriers shall also file the quarterly reports required by Section 43.61 in the circumstances specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of that Section. (12) Carriers shall file annual reports of circuit status and/ or circuit additions in accordance with the requirements set forth in Rules for Filing of International Circuit Status Reports, CC Docket No. 93- 157, Report and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 8605 (1995). See 47 C. F. R. §§ 43.82, 63.23( e). These requirements apply to facilities- based carriers and private line resellers, respectively. See also: http: www. fcc. gov/ ib/ pd/ pf/ csmanual. html (13) Carriers should consult Section 63.19 of the rules when contemplating a discontinuance, reduction or impairment of service. Further, the grant of these applications shall not be construed to include authorization for the transmission of money in connection with the services the applicants have been given authority to provide. The transmission of money is not considered to be a common carrier service. (14) If any carrier is reselling service obtained pursuant to a contract with another carrier, the services obtained by contract shall be made generally available by the underlying carrier to similarly situated customers at the same terms, conditions and rates. 47 U. S. C. § 203. (15) To the extent the applicant is, or is affiliated with, an incumbent independent local exchange carrier, as those terms are defined in Section 64.1902 of the rules, it shall provide the authorized services in compliance with the requirements of Section 64.1903. See Regulatory Treatment of LEC Provision of Interexchange Services Originating in the LEC's Local Exchange Area and Policy and Rules Concerning the Interstate, Interexchange Marketplace, Second Report and Order in CC Docket No. 96- 149 and Third Report and Order in CC Docket No. 96- 61, 12 FCC Rcd 15756, recon., 12 FCC Rcd 8730 (1997), Order, 13 FCC Rcd 6427 (Com. Car. Bur. 1998), further recon., FCC 99- 103 (rel. June 30, 1999). (16) Except as otherwise ordered by the Commission, a carrier authorized here to provide facilities- based service that (i) is classified as dominant under Section 63.10 of the rules for the provision of such service on a particular route and (ii) is affiliated with a carrier that collects settlement payments for terminating U. S. international switched traffic at the foreign end of that route may not provide facilities- based service on that route unless the current rates the affiliate charges U. S. international carrier to terminate traffic are at or below the Commission's relevant benchmark adopted in International Settlement Rates, IB Docket No. 96- 261, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 19806 (1997). See also Report and Order on Page 6 of 7 6 Settlement Rates, IB Docket No. 96- 261, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 19806 (1997). See also Report and Order on Reconsideration and Order Lifting Stay in IB Docket No. 96- 261, FCC 99- 124 (rel. June 11, 1999). For the purposes of this rule, "affiliation" and "foreign carrier" are defined in Section 63.09. Petitions for reconsideration under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission's rules in regard to the grant of any of these applications may be filed within thirty days of this public notice (see Section 1.4( b)( 2)). For additional information, please contact the FCC Reference and Information Center, Room CY- A257, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, D. C. 20554, (202) 418- 0270. Exclusion List for International Section 214 Authorizations -- Last Modified December 22, 1999 -- The following is a list of countries and facilities not covered by grant of global Section 214 authority under Section 63.18( e)( 1) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 63.18( e)( 1). In addition, the facilities listed shall not be used by U. S. carriers authorized under Section 63.18 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 Section 63.18( e)( 4) of the Commission's Rules. See generally 47 C. F. R. § 63.22. Countries: Cuba (Applications for service to Cuba 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 satellite systems that are not on the Permitted Space Station List, maintained at http:// www. fcc. gov/ ib/ sd/ se/ permitted. html. See International Bureau Public Notice, DA 99- 2844 (rel. Dec. 17, 1999). 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 may 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, 11 FCC Rcd 12,884, released March 13, 1996 (61 Fed. Reg. 15,724, April 9, 1996). A current version of this list is maintained at http:// www. fcc. gov/ ib/ td/ pf/ telecomrules. html# exclusionlist. For additional information, contact the International Bureau's Policy Division, (202) 418- 1460. Page 7 of 7 7