News media Information:  202 / 418-0500
                                                 Fax-On-Demand:  202 / 418-2830
                                                   Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
                                                                    ftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20554

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).




Report No. IN 97-32           INTERNATIONAL  ACTION         October 15, 1997


ARRANGEMENTS FOR GLOBAL MOBILE PERSONAL 
             COMMUNICATIONS BY SATELLITE ADOPTED IN GENEVA

       The FCC announced today that Commission negotiators, along with representatives of the
satellite industry, played a major role in finalizing the Global Mobile Personal Communications
(GMPCS) Arrangements, by working closely with Europe and the developing world.  The
finalization of the GMPCS Arrangements took place at a meeting in Geneva last week.  The goal
of the Arrangements is for regulators of various countries to have common rules and regulations
that will allow satellite service customers to purchase handheld phones or portable terminals and be
able to travel freely with them around the globe.   

       The meeting was held at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the revised
set of Arrangements, developed in the wake of last February's GMPCS Satellite Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU), was approved by over 80 administrations and industry leaders.  The
Arrangements establish suggested procedures for the type approval, marking, licensing, and
provision of traffic data for all types of GMPCS services, along with recommendations for customs
authorities.   

       "These Arrangements bring the world one step closer to a seamless global information
structure where consumers can cross borders without any disruption in their mobile communications 
service," announced Gina Keeney, Chief of the FCC's International Bureau.

                      Another outcome of the ITU meeting was that a task force was developed to devise the best
ways to implement the Arrangements. The United States will play a vital role on the task force,
working with industry representatives and delegates from other countries to study various issues,
including trademark ownership, creation of a country database registry, and the role of the ITU in
overseeing these Arrangements in the future. The task force is scheduled to report back to the final
MOU plenary session early next year.   


- FCC -
          

       News Media contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256.
       International Bureau contact: Donnajean Ward at (202) 418-7276.