*Pages 1--2 from Unknown* 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 Friday April 20, 2001 SAT- 00071 Report No. GE American Communications, Inc. -- Application for Transfer of Control to SES Global S. A. SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH INFORMATION KS43- X SAT- T/ C- 20010402- 00030 GE AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Transfer of Control TO: GE ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION FROM: Current Licensee: SES GLOBAL S. A. GE AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. The Commission has received applications requesting consent to the transfer of control of licenses and authorizations held by GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom) or its subsidiary Columbia Communications Corporation (Columbia) to SES Global S. A. (SES Global). GE Americom and Columbia hold various space station, earth station and microwave licenses and Section 214 authority. SES Global is a newly formed Luxembourg company. The proposed transfer of control will occur as a result of a merger of a wholly- owned subsidiary of SES Global into GE Subsidiary, Inc. 22, which indirectly holds 100% of the stock of GE Americom. Subsequent to the transfer of control, GE Americom and Columbia will continue to operate as indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of SES Global. The proposed transfer of control of common carrier wireless licenses from GE Americom and Columbia to SES Global, which will wholly- own the licensee GE Sub- 22, will result in indirect foreign ownership of the licensee in excess of the 25- percent foreign ownership limit in Section 310( b)( 4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat (BCEE) and Société National de Credit et d'Investisement (SNCI) are both owned by the State of Luxembourg and will collectively hold a 16.67% economic interest in SES Global. In aggregate, the indirect foreign ownership of SES Global would amount to approximately 29.27%. Both Luxembourg and Germany are WTO members. Therefore, the Applicants request that the Commission find the proposed foreign ownership of the licensee in excess of 25 percent to be in the public interest pursuant to Section 310( b)( 4) of the Act. Additionally, the Applicants request that the Commission approve the transfer of control of domestic and international Section 214 authorizations from GE Americom to SES Global. SES Global and its affiliates request non- dominant regulatory treatment on the routes GE Americom is authorized to serve. The Applicants do not request streamlined processing. Page 1 of 2 1 Upon initial review, we find that the applications listed below are acceptable for filing. Pursuant to the Commission's rules, we may return any of these applications if we determine upon further review that they are defective or not in conformance with our rules, regulations, or policies. Application File No. SAT- T/ C- 20010402- 00030 is the Lead File number for this series of applications. The complete list of File Numbers follows: Satellite Space Stations: GE American Communications, Inc. - File No. SAT- T/ C- 20010402- 00030 Columbia Communications Corporation - File No. SAT- T/ C- 20010402- 00031 Satellite Earth Stations: GE American Communications, Inc. - File No. SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00736 SES Global, S. A. (Lead Call Sign E871856) VSAT Earth Stations: GE American Communications, Inc. -- File Nos. SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00740 Call Sign E871856 SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00741 E880973 SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00742 E890531 SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00743 E890253 SES- T/ C- 20010402- 00744 E900004 Section 214 Authorizations: GE American Communications, Inc. - File No. 214- T/ C- 20010402- 00178 Microwave Licenses: GE American Communications, Inc. - File No. 0000413466; Lead Call Sign WAH584 Section 310( b)( 4) Petition for Declaratory Ruling: SES Global S. A. - File No. ISP- PDR- 20010402- 00017 Comments, petitions, or informal objections regarding these applications may be filed on or before May 21, 2001. Replies to comments and oppositions to petitions or informal objections may be filed on or before June 1, 2001. Responses may be filed on or before June 8, 2001. All comments, petitions, informal objections, replies, and responses shall be consistent with section 25.154 of our rules. See 47 C. F. R. § 25.154. Copies of the referenced applications and subsequent filings will be available for public inspection in the Federal Communications Commission Reference Center, Room CY- A257, 445 12th St., S. W., Washington, D. C., 20554, (202) 418- 0270 and from ITS Duplicating Services, 1231 20th St., N. W., Washington, D. C., 20036, (202) 857- 3800. Commenters must file an original and four copies of all comments and reply comments. The lead file number for this series of applications is File No. SAT- T/ C- 20010402- 00030, and should be referenced on ALL documents filed in response to this Public Notice. All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 - 12th Street, S. W., TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading should be sent to James Bird, OGC TransactionTeam, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S. W. Room 8- C818, Washington, D. C. 20554. For questions or further information, please contact Terrence E. Reideler at (202) 418- 2165. For further information about the foreign ownership or the international Section 214 authorizations, please contact Lisa Choi at (202) 418- 1384. For further information concerning microwave licenses, contact Jeffrey Tobias at (202) 418- 1617. Page 2 of 2 2