DA 96-370 Federal Communications Commission Record
	
11 FCC Rcd No.7
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
COMSAT CORPORATION
	
File No. I-T-C-95-407
Application for authority pursuant to
Section 214 of the Communications Act
1934, as amended, to establish channels
communication via INTELSAT satellites
in the Atlantic Ocean Region between
Andover, Maine and Coral Gables,
Florida and between Andover, Maine
and Silver Spring, Maryland on an
incidental basis as an integral part of an
international VSAT system
ORDER AND AUTHORIZATION
Adopted: March 8, 1996;
	
Released: March 22, 1996
By the Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Divi-
sion:
1. By this Order we authorize Communications Satellite
Corporation ("COMSAT") to establish channels of commu-
nications via Intelsat satellites in the Atlantic Ocean Re-
gion between an MCI hub earth station in Andover, Maine
and a National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
("NOAA") earth station in Coral Gables, Florida and be-
tween Andover, Maine and NOAA's earth station in Silver
Spring, Maryland. No comments were filed in response to
COMSAT's application.
2. COMSAT proposes to establish channels of commu-
nications between the above loactions as an integral part of
MCI's international VSAT network which supports
NOAA's International Satellite Communications System
("ISCS"). The ISCS VSAT network MCI is implementing
for NOAA will consist of approximately fifty sites in Cen-
tral America, South America, the Caribbean and the acific.
MCI's antenna at Andover, Maine will serve as the hub of
the network. Because the National Weather Service Hur-
ricane Center is based in Coral Gables, Florida, and
NOAA's headquarters are in Silver Spring, Maryland --
both of which are critical components of the ISCS interna-
tional network -- COMSAT proposes to provide Intelsat
C-band capacity, including transmit/receive capability, be-
tween these points as an incidental part of the international
VSAT network supporting the ISCS. COMSAT notes that
the proposed service is primarily international in nature
and cannot be provided in its entirety by domestic satellite
facilities. Under these circumstances, COMSAT states that
use of the Intelsat system for the limited domestic service
See Transborder Satellite Video Services, 88 F.C.C.2d 258
1981).
See COMSAT Corporation, 8 F.C.C. Rcd 5724 (1993).
proposed is the most efficient and cost-effective means of
the providing the service and is consistent with Commis-
sion precedent and the public interest.
3. We find that authorization of COMSAT's application
to establish channels of communications will serve the
present and future public convenience and necessity.
COMSAT states that the proposed service requirements are
primarily international in nature. The Commission has
previously recognized that, under certain circumstances,
the use of a single satellite is the most efficient means of
providing service to domestic and international points
where one service component is incidental to the primary
service.' For example, the Commission has authorized
COMSAT to provide space segment capacity for service
between U.S. points incidental to an international VSAT
network.2 The same situation is presented here where
Comsat proposes to provide primarily international service
which cannot be provided in its entirety by facilities pro-
viding U.S. domestic service. Under these circumstances,
use of an Intelsat satellite for the limited domestic service
proposed appears to be the most efficient and cost-effective
means of providing service. Our finding that Intelsat sat-
ellites may be used to provide domestic service on an
incidental basis should not be construed as permitting the
provision of purely domestic services via Intelsat facilities.
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that application File
No. I-T-C-95-407 IS GRANTED and Comsat is authorized
to establish channels of communication between MCI's
Andover, Maine earth station and the National Weather
Service Hurricane Center in Coral Gables, Florida, and
NOAA's headquarters are in Silver Spring, Maryland as
part of NOAA's international VSAT system.
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this authorization is
limited to the provision of service between U.S. locations
which is incidental to and part of primary international
communications and that this requirement shall be re-
flected in COMSAT's tariff.
6. This order is issued pursuant to Section 0.26 1 of the
Commission's rules and is effective upon adoption.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Thomas Tycz
Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division
International Bureau
3576