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 ORIG  LTR   TO  ADDRESSEE
-COPIES   TO
                                                         United States Department   of State
 S
 D
                                                         Under Secretary ofState
                                      P!SL               for Economic, Business, and
                          7001 UEC-3                     Agricultural Affairs

                                                         Washington,  D.C. 20520—7512
 S/ES
                                                            December    3,  2001
 sp          Dear   Mr.  Chairman:
 PA/RB                          of  the   Federal   Communication      Commission’s
     S — S          In  light
              (Commission)     rulemaking     proceeding    In   the Matter    of  Review    of
              Commission    Consideration      of  Applications     under    the  Cable
 ‘PS          Landing   License    Act,   lB  Docket   No.  00-106,    the  Department     of
  HEW)        State  has   reviewed    the  procedures     it  applies    to  submarine
              cable   landing   license    applications     with   a view   to  expediting
              the  process.     Mindful    of  the  Secretary     of  State’s   obligations
             under    the  Cable   Landing    License   Act   (47  U.S.C.   §   34  —39)   as
             delegated     in  Executive    Order   No.   10530,   the  Department     of
              State  will   streamline     its  review    process   to  help   U.S.
              companies    stay   competitive     and  assist   the   Commission    in
              efficiently     carrying    out  its  responsibilities       under   the  Cable
              Landing   License    Act  as  delegated     in  Executive    Order   No.   10530.
                      In  order   to  facilitate     the  Commission’s     adoption    of
              streamlined     submarine    cable   landing    license   procedures,      the
             Department     of  State   hereby    approves    the  Cornmissions     grant   or
              revocation    of  all   submarine    cable   license    applications,
             provided     that  the   Commission    has   notified    in  writing   the
              United   States   Coordinator      for  International     Communications      and
              Information     Policy    fEB/Cl?),   and   other   interested    Executive
              Branch   agencies,    of  each   such   license   application      and  that  no
              objections    are   raised   by  the  Department     within   30  days   after
              such  notification.        In addition,     this  blanket    approval    applies
              to prospective      pro  forma   assignments     or  transfers    of   control
              of  interests    in  the  cable    landing   license.     The   Department
             will   make   its  best   effort    to notify    the  Commission     of  any
              objections    it  might   have   to  the  grant   or  revocation     of  a
              license   as  soon   as  possible.      Neither   the   Commission    nor   the
              applicant    for  a  lIcense    may  consider    the  grant   of  a  license
              approved    if  any  such   objections    are   pending.


              The  Honorable    Michael    Powell,
                    Chairman,
                          Federal   Communications       Commission,
                               445   12th  St.,   SW,
                                    Washington,      D.C.  20554.

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                 These   new  approval    procedures     are  intended     to better
          facilitate     the  conduct    of  interstate     and  foreign    corrunerce
          without    jeopardizing     national    security.      Please    let  us  know   if
          we  can  be   of  further   assistance.

                                                         Sincerely,

                                                         Alan   Larson