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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:  February  14,  2002  Maureen  Peratino  at  202-  418-  0506 
 COMMISSION  PROPOSES  TO  REFORM  SATELLITE  LICENSING  PROCEDURES 
 Washington,  DC  --  Today,  the  Commission  proposed  to  reform  its  satellite  licensing  process.  In  light  of  increased  global  competition,  the  proposals  aim  to  expedite  delivery  of  satellite  services  to  the  public 
 and  reduce  economic  costs  associated  with  regulatory  delay.  In  addition,  the  proposed  reforms  will  enable  us  to  promote  spectrum  efficiency  and  better  respond  to  technological  innovation. 


 Satellite  applications  often  involve  requests  to  operate  satellite  systems  in  the  same  frequency  bands.  Operations  by  multiple  systems  in  the  same  bands  create  the  potential  for  interference  among  these  systems. 
 Consequently,  the  Commission  has  considered  all  potentially  conflicting  applications  together  in  “processing  rounds.”  To  resolve  interference  problems,  the  Commission  affords  applicants  the  opportunity  to  negotiate  a 
 solution  that  would  accommodate  all  proposed  systems.  Those  negotiations  could  delay  licensing  by  months  or  years,  thereby  delaying  service  to  the  public. 


 In  a  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  (NPRM),  the  Commission  set  forth  two  alternative  space  station  licensing  proposals.  The  first  proposes  to  replace  processing  rounds  with  a  new  procedure  called 
 "first-  come,  first-  served."  Under  this  approach,  the  Commission  would  consider  the  first  application  for  specific  spectrum  and/  or  orbit  location.  Subsequently  filed  applications  would  be  included  in  a  queue 
 according  to  their  date  of  filing.  The  purpose  of  this  proposal  is  to  expedite  satellite  licensing  by  avoiding  the  need  to  consider  multiple  applications  together  or  for  applicants  to  resolve  complex  issues  among 
 themselves.  The  second  proposal  is  to  modify  the  current  processing  round  approach.  Under  this  alternative,  the  NPRM  proposes  establishing  a  60-  day  deadline  for  completing  negotiations  and  requests  comment  on 
 certain  other  reforms. 
 The  NPRM  also  proposes  other  satellite  licensing  streamlining  initiatives.  Those  proposals  include  eliminating  financial  qualifications  in  conjunction  with  strengthening  the  milestone  requirements,  eliminating 
 the  satellite  anti-  trafficking  rule  and  streamlining  the  replacement  satellite  application  procedure. 
 Action  by  the  Commission  February  14,  2002,  by  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  and  First  Report  and  Order  (FCC  02-  45).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps  and  Martin,  with 
 Commissioner  Abernathy  issuing  a  separate  statement. 
 -  FCC  - 
 International  Bureau  contact:  Steven  Spaeth  at  202-  418-  1539 
 IB  Docket  No.  02-  34  IB  Docket  No.  00-  248 
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