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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT: 
 May  29,  2001  Linda  Haller  at  202-  418-  1408 


 COMMISSION  FINDS  THAT  INTELSAT’S  PRIVATIZATION  WILL  SATISFY  THE  ORBIT  ACT 


 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  Commission  has  found  that  INTELSAT’s  plans  for 
 privatization  are  consistent  with  the  requirements  of  the  Open-  Market  Reorganization  for 
 the  Betterment  of  Telecommunications  Act  (the  ORBIT  Act). 


 The  ORBIT  Act  was  enacted  on  March  17,  2000  to  promote  a  competitive  market  for  satellite 
 communications  through  privatization  of  INTELSAT.  The  Act  established  legislative  criteria  for 
 Commission  review  of  applications  to  serve  the  U.  S.  market  by  INTELSAT  when  privatized. 
 INTELSAT  plans  to  privatize  on  July  18,  2001.  The  Commission  found  that  those  plans  satisfy  the 
 ORBIT  Act  criteria.  As  a  result,  the  conditional  licenses  issued  by  the  Commission  to  Intelsat  LLC  on 
 August  8,  2000,  for  operation  of  existing  and  planned  satellites  in  the  C-  band  and  Ku-  band  will 
 become  effective  upon  privatization  on  July  18,  2001.  At  that  time,  INTELSAT  will  transfer  its 
 satellites  and  associated  assets  to  Intelsat  LLC  and  INTELSAT’s  ITU  network  filings  for  the  locations 
 associated  with  these  satellites  are  transferred  to  the  United  States  national  registry.  Intelsat  LLC  will 
 then  have  full  access  to  the  U.  S.  market  as  an  FCC  licensee. 


 Action  by  the  Commission  May  24,  2001,  by  Memorandum,  Opinion  Order  and  Authorization 
 (FCC  01-  183).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Ness,  Furchtgott-  Roth  and  Tristani. 


 For  further  information,  contact  James  Ball,  International  Bureau  at  202-  418-  0427  or 
 Alexandra  Field,  Satellite  and  Radiocommunications  Division,  International  Bureau  at  202-  418-  2064. 


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