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DA 18-607
June 11, 2018


REPEAL OF ORBIT ACT AND 
SATELLITE COMPETITION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

IB Docket Nos. 14-229, 18-18
(Proceedings Terminated)


On March 23, 2018, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which included the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act of 2018 (RAY BAUM’S Act). Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-141, Division P–RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018, 132 Stat. 348, 1080–1115 (2018).
  The RAY BAUM’S Act, among other things, repealed two Federal Communications Commission (Commission) reporting requirements. RAY BAUM’S Act § 402(a), (b), 132 Stat. at 1089.


Specifically, Section 402(a) of the RAY BAUM’S Act repeals Section 646 of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 (Satellite Act), which required the Commission to annually report to Congress on the progress made towards achieving the objectives of the Open-Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (ORBIT Act Report). 47 U.S.C. § 765e (2000), repealed by RAY BAUM’S Act § 402(a), 132 Stat. at 1089.
  Section 402(b) of the RAY BAUM’S Act repeals Section 703 of the Satellite Act, which required the Commission to annually submit to Congress a report analyzing competitive market conditions with respect to domestic and international satellite communications services (Satellite Competition Report). 47 U.S.C. § 703 (2005), repealed by RAY BAUM’S Act § 402(b), 132 Stat. at 1089.

  Accordingly, the Commission is no longer required to prepare and submit to Congress the ORBIT Act Report and Satellite Competition Report, and we hereby terminate IB Docket Numbers 14-229 and 18-18.

	For further information, contact Cara Grayer, Telecommunications and Analysis Division, International Bureau, at Cara.Grayer@fcc.gov or (202) 418-2960.


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