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                           Before the  
                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20554


In the Matter of

COMSAT Corporation

Direct Access to the INTELSAT System



File No. 60-SAT-ISP-97
IB Docket No. 98-192



                              ORDER

     Adopted:  November 20, 1998             Released:  November 23, 1998

By the Chief, International Bureau:

     1.   On November 10, 1998, Comsat Corporation filed a Request for Extension of Time to
file comments and reply comments in the referenced proceeding.  No party has opposed the Request. 
Comsat's Request is granted.  

     2.   The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding, released October 28, 1998, set
the dates for filing comments and reply comments for December 18, 1998 and January 8, 1999,
respectively.  Comsat has requested that these dates be extended to December 22, 1998 and January
29, 1999, respectively.  

     3.   In support of its request, Comsat states that the Notice raises complex issues that will
require additional time and the participation of several key Comsat personnel to address properly. 
Further, Comsat states that many of these persons will be involved in responding to other Commission
proceedings with deadlines falling between November 23 and December 18, 1998, warranting a brief
extension until December 22, 1998 for the initial comments in this proceeding.  Comsat points to the
possibility of substantial comments being filed and the intervening holiday period to support its
requested extension of the reply comment deadline to January 29, 1999.  Given these circumstances,
we find the requested extensions are warranted.

     4.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's
Rules on delegations of authority, 47 C.F.R. Section 0.261, Comsat Corporation's Request for
Extension of Time to file comments and reply comments in the referenced proceeding IS GRANTED. 
Comments may be filed on or before December 22, 1998 and reply comments may be filed on or
before January 29, 1999.

     5.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order is effective upon release.

                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              Regina M. Keeney
                              Chief, International Bureau