[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33929-33930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16515]
[[Page 33929]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[DA 98-888]
Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process
and Tariff Requirements
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On May 11, 1998, the Telecommunications Division of the
International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission adopted
an Order modifying the exclusion list that prohibits U.S. carriers from
making use of non-U.S. licensed facilities. The Commission removed the
following facilities from the exclusion list: U.K.-German-6, FLAG, all
cables on the Sweden-Finland route, Ulysses, and HERMES. This decision
will reduce the regulatory burden on U.S. carriers seeking to obtain
capacity on these facilities and should make the market for cable
access more competitive, leading to lower prices for U.S. carriers' end
users.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 11, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Krinsky, Attorney, Policy and
Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau,
(202) 418-1099.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Telecommunications
Division's Order adopted on May 11, 1998 and released on May 13, 1998
(DA 98-888). The full text of this Order is available for inspection
and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center
(Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text
of this Order also may be purchased from the Commission's copy
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 857-3800. The Order also is
available as a text file at <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/
Orders/1998/da980888.txt>. It is available as a WordPerfect file at
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Orders/1998/da980888.wp>.
Summary of Order
1. On February 29, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission
adopted rules to streamline the international Section 214 authorization
process and tariff requirements. (Report and Order, Streamlining the
International Section 214 Authorization Process and Tariff
Requirements, IB Docket No. 95-118, FCC 96-79, released March 13, 1996,
61 FR 15724, April 9, 1996). The Report and Order adopted procedures
for issuing global, rather than country-specific and facility-specific,
Section 214 authorizations to qualified applicants. As part of the new
procedures, the Commission required the International Bureau to
establish and maintain an exclusion list identifying restrictions on
providing service using particular facilities or to particular
countries for those carriers receiving a global Section 214
authorization. On July 26, 1996, the International Bureau adopted the
exclusion list. (Report and Order, Streamlining the International
Section 214 Authorization Process and Tariff Requirements, DA 96-1205,
released July 29, 1996, 61 FR 50023, September 24, 1996). The exclusion
list was subsequently modified on October 22, 1996 (Report and Order,
Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process and
Tariff Requirements, DA 96-1752, released October 24, 1996, 61 FR
58689, November 18, 1996).
2. On December 29, 1997, PLD Telekom Inc. (PLD) requested authority
to provide authorized and future services using the following non-U.S.-
licensed facilities not yet identified as exceptions to the
Commission's exclusion list: U.K.-German-6, FLAG, all cables on the
Sweden-Finland route, Ulysses, and HERMES (See PLD Telekom, File No.
ITC-98-040, filed December 29, 1997). No parties opposed PLD's request.
3. With regard to the cable facilities identified by PLD, we do not
find any imperative circumstances that warrant their continued
exclusion. Removal of these cable systems from the exclusion list will
reduce the regulatory burden on U.S. carriers wishing to obtain
capacity on these facilities and should make the market for cable
access more competitive, leading to lower prices for U.S. carriers' end
users. We therefore find that the public interest will be served by
removing the requested facilities from the exclusion list. The U.K.-
German-6, FLAG, all cables on the Sweden-Finland route, Ulysses, and
HERMES cables will therefore be added to the facilities specified as
excepted from the exclusion list. This modification of the exclusion
list allows any U.S. facilities-based carrier with global Section 214
authorization to use these cable systems.
Ordering Clauses
4. Accordingly, it is ordered that the Exclusion List attached to
this order, which identifies restrictions on providing service using
particular facilities or to particular countries for those carriers
receiving a global Section 214 authorization, is hereby adopted.
5. This order is issued under Sec. 0.261 of the Commission's rules,
47 CFR 0.261, and is effective upon adoption. Petitions for
reconsideration under Sec. 1.106 or applications for review under
Sec. 1.115 of the Commission's Rules may be filed within 30 days of the
date of the public notice of this Order (See 47 CFR 1.4(b)(2)).
Federal Communications Commission.
Diane J. Cornell,
Chief, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau.
Attachment
International Section 214 Authorizations; Exclusion List as of
May 11, 1998.
The following is a list of countries and facilities not covered
by grant of global Section 214 authority under Section 63.18(e)(1)
of the Commission's Rules. 47 CFR 63.18(e)(1). In addition, the
facilities listed shall not be used by U.S. carriers authorized
under Section 63.01 of the Commission's Rules, unless the carrier's
Section 214 authorization specifically lists the facility. Carriers
desiring to serve countries or use facilities listed as excluded
hereon shall file a separate Section 214 application pursuant to
Section 63.8(e)(6) of the Commission's Rules. 47 CFR 63.18(e)(6).
Countries
Cuba (applications for service to this country shall comply with
the separate filing requirements of the Commission's Public Notice
Report No. I-6831, dated July 27, 1993, ``FCC to Accept Applications
for Service to Cuba.'')
Facilities
All non-U.S. licensed Cable and Satellite Systems ExceptForeign
Cable Systems.
Aden-Djibouti
APC
APCN
APHRODITE 2
ARIANNE 2
ASEAN
B-M-P
Brunei-Singapore
CADMOS
CANTAT-3
CARAC
CELTIC
China-Japan
CIOS
Denmark-Russia
ECFS
EMOS-1
EURAFRICA
FLAG
Germany-Denmark 1
Germany-Sweden No. 4
Germany-Sweden No. 5
H-J-K
HERMES
HONTAI-2
ITUR
KATTEGAT-1
[[Page 33930]]
Kuantan-Kota Kinabalu
LATVIA-SWEDEN
Malaysia-Thailand
Marseille/Palermo Link
MAT-2
ODIN
PENCAN-5
R-J-K
RIOJA
SAT-2
SEA-ME-WE 2
SEA-ME-WE 3
Sweden-Finland
T-V-H
TAGIDE 2
TASMAN 2
UGARIT
UK-BEL 6
UK-Denmark 4
UK-Germany 5
UK-Germany 6
UK-Netherlands 12
UK-Netherlands 14
UK-Spain 4
Ulysses
Unisur
This list is subject to change by the Commission when the public
interest requires. Before amending the list, the Commission will
first issue a public notice giving affected parties the opportunity
for comment and hearing on the proposed changes. The Commission will
then release an order amending the exclusion list. The list also is
subject to change upon issuance of an Executive Order. See
Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process and
Tariff Requirements, IB Docket No. 95-118, FCC 96-79, released March
13, 1996.
For additional information, contact the International Bureau's
Telecommunications Division, Policy and Facilities Branch, (202)
418-1460.
[FR Doc. 98-16515 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
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