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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12th  St.,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov 
 Report  No.  SPB-  177  March  29,  2002 
 INTERNATIONAL  BUREAU  INFORMATION: 
 REPORT  TO  CONGRESS  REGARDING  THE  ORBIT  ACT 


 Section  646  of  the  Open-  Market  Reorganization  for  the  Betterment  of  International  Telecommunications  Act  (“  the  ORBIT  Act”),  47  U.  S.  C.  646,  requires  the  Commission  to 
 annually  report  to  the  Committees  on  Commerce  and  International  Relations  of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the  Committees  on  Commerce,  Science,  and  Transportation  and  Foreign 
 Relations  of  the  Senate  on  the  progress  made  to  achieve  the  objectives  and  carry  out  the  purposes  and  provisions  of  ORBIT  Act.  The  Commission  issued  its  first  report  on  June  15,  2000,  and  its 
 second  report  June  15,  2001.  The  next  report  is  due  June  15,  2002. 
 The  purpose  of  the  Act  is  to  promote  a  fully  competitive  global  market  for  satellite  communications  services  for  the  benefit  of  consumers  and  providers  of  satellite  services  and 


 equipment  by  fully  privatizing  INTELSAT  and  Inmarsat.  The  Commission  has  previously  received  comment  on  INTELSAT’s  and  Inmarsat’s  privatization  in  connection  with  other 
 proceedings  and  prior  to  earlier  reports  to  Congress.  The  purpose  of  this  notice  is  to  provide  an  opportunity  for  industry  and  consumers  to  file  additional  comments,  particularly  with  respect  to 
 the  impact  of  privatization  on  U.  S.  industry,  jobs  and  industry  access  to  the  global  marketplace.  Comments  and  views  will  be  reflected  in  the  Commission’s  report  and  made  available  in  full  to 
 the  House  and  Senate  committees. 
 Comments  should  be  filed  on  or  before  April  12,  2002  and  Reply  Comments  on  or  before  April  19,  2002.  Comments  should  reference  “Report  No.  177” 


 For  further  information,  contact  Alexandra  Field  at  (202)  418-  2064  or  Jabin  Vahora  at  (202)  418-  1229. 


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