*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 57896.doc* Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 85 CONCURRING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS RE: Consolidated Application for Authority to Transfer Control of PanAmSat Licensee Corp. and PamAmSat H- 2 Licensee Corp, IB Docket No. 05- 290. I have serious doubts about the competitive effects of allowing a merger between two of the three leading Fixed Satellite Service providers in North America. Though Intelsat and PanAmSat do not provide wholly overlapping services, they do compete in certain markets for the same customers. I worry that these customers will face higher prices as a result of our decision today. More generally, I am concerned because the transaction we approve today is part of an unprecedented trend towards consolidation in every sector of the communications industry. As I have said many times, I believe this trend will prove enormously harmful in the long run for consumers and the public interest. At the same time, I recognize that none of the merging parties’ customers opposes this merger, and indeed several have filed comments in support of it. These customers apparently believe that the merger will not harm them, and I hope they are right. Given the strength of the record in favor of this transaction, it becomes difficult to dissent to this item. I note the separate concerns – unrelated to economic consolidation – raised by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), which has the critically important duty of ensuring that Intelsat lives up to the promises it made when it converted from an intergovernmental organization to a private commercial entity. At the same time, I do not believe the issues ITSO raises – which do not involve PanAmSat at all – are properly addressed within the context of our merger review. As the item explains, Section 316 of the Act allows ITSO to bring its claims against Intelsat before the Commission. If ITSO chooses to do so, we will fulfill our statutory duty to consider them carefully and thoroughly. 1