NEWS Report No. IB 97-13             INTERNATIONAL ACTION          May 16, 1997   

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU GRANTS MAP MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.'S
           REQUEST TO EXCEED 25% FOREIGN OWNERSHIP BENCHMARK

       Today the International Bureau released an Order that grants MAP Mobile Communications, Inc.'s
("MAP") Petition for Declaratory Ruling to exceed the 25 percent foreign ownership benchmark of
Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended ("Act").  The Bureau determined that
allowing MAP to acquire narrowband Personal Communications Services ("PCS") and additional
Commercial Mobile Radio Services ("CMRS") paging licenses would not be contrary to the public
interest. This decision will allow MAP to participate in the narrowband PCS and CMRS paging spectrum
auctions without uncertainty about its foreign ownership status.

       MAP is a commercial mobile service licensee providing telecommunications services in the United
States, including a nation-wide messaging service operating on a 929 MHz channel and local messaging
services in major U.S. markets.  MAP is predominantly owned and controlled by Australians and thus
exceeds the 25 percent foreign ownership benchmark set forth in Section 310(b)(4) of the Act.  Section
310(b)(4) of the Act grants the Commission discretion to allow higher levels of foreign investment if it
finds that the proposed investment is not inconsistent with the public interest.  MAP sought this
determination prior to the spectrum auctions so that it could participate without uncertainty about its
ownership status.  

       The International Bureau concludes that allowing MAP to acquire narrowband PCS and/or
additional CMRS paging licenses would be in the public interest.  The Bureau finds that Australia
satisfies the Section 310(b)(4) Effective Competitive Opportunities (ECO) test.  In applying this test, the
Bureau finds that there are no de jure or legal barriers to U.S. carriers entering the relevant market, the
Australian mobile services market.  With regard to de facto or practical barriers to entry, the Bureau finds
no evidence of such barriers.  Moreover, Australia has made binding commitments to ensure an
independent regulator and fair rules of competition, beginning January 1, 1998, as part of the World
Trade Organization (WTO) agreement signed by 69 countries on February 15, 1997.  Thus the Bureau
finds that Australia satisfies the ECO test.  The Bureau also finds that MAP's participation in the auctions
serves the public interest by maximizing competition and service options.  Furthermore, the Bureau finds
that the WTO agreement represents an important public interest factor in granting MAP's request.  Based
on these findings, the Bureau grants MAP's petition.

       Action by the Chief, International Bureau, May 16, 1997, by Order (DA 97-1037).

  - FCC - 

               News Media contact: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256.
               International Bureau contact: Adam Krinsky at (202) 418-1099.