A bill striking the Specific Privatization Criteria in ORBIT for Intelsat Separated Entities (New Skies) and Inmarsat and Other Technical Corrections.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends title VI (Open-market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act or ORBIT Act) of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 by striking: (1) all specific criteria for Intelsat (a global satellite provider of voice, data, and Internet services) separated entities privatization (New Skies, formed through Intelsat) provisions; and (2) the reaffiliation prohibition and the interlocking directorates or employees privatization criteria provisions for Inmarsat (a global mobile satellite communications provider), while maintaining GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) provisions.

Directs the Federal Communications Commission to review competitive market conditions of domestic and international satellite communications services and include in an annual report an analysis of those conditions.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 976 Considered and Passed Senate (CPS)]

  1st Session
                                 S. 976

  Striking the Specific Privatization Criteria in ORBIT for Intelsat 
    Separated Entities (New Skies) and Inmarsat and Other Technical 
                              Corrections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               April 29 (legislative day, April 28), 2005

    Mr. Burns introduced the following bill; which was read twice, 
              considered, read the third time, and passed

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  Striking the Specific Privatization Criteria in ORBIT for Intelsat 
    Separated Entities (New Skies) and Inmarsat and Other Technical 
                              Corrections.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR INTELSAT SEPARATED ENTITIES AND 
              INMARSAT MODIFIED.

    (a) Amendment.--The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 (47 U.S.C. 
701 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking section 623 (47 U.S.C. 763b), and
            (2) in section 624 (47 U.S.C. 763c), by striking ``In 
        securing the privatizations'' and all that follows, and 
        inserting ``In securing the privatization of Inmarsat required 
        by section 621, and thereafter, the United States shall 
        preserve space segment capacity of the GMDSS.''
            (3) in section 621 (5)(D)(ii) (47 U.S.C. 763), by striking 
        ``(I)'' and by striking ``, or (II) have any direct financial 
        interest'' and all that follows through the end of the 
        subparagraph, and inserting ``;''.
            (4) in section 621 (5)(D)(iv) (47 U.S.C. 763), by striking 
        ``(I)'' and by striking ``, or (II) have any direct financial 
        interest'' and all that follows through the end of the 
        subparagraph, and inserting ``.''.
    (b) Satellite Service Report.--The Commission shall review 
competitive market conditions with respect to domestic and 
international satellite communications services and shall include in an 
annual report an analysis of those conditions. Such analysis shall 
include an identification of the number and market share of competitors 
in domestic and international satellite markets, including an analysis 
of whether there is effective competition in the market for domestic 
and international satellite services, and shall include a list of any 
foreign nations in which legal or regulatory practices restrict access 
to the market for satellite services in such nation in a manner that 
undermines competition or favors a particular competitor or set of 
competitors.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall be 
effective as of the date of enactment of this section.
                                 <all>