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           Before theFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C.  20554
                                

In the Matter of                    )
                              )
Requests For                  )
Special Temporary                   )      File Nos.  See Appendix A
Authority                     )            
                              )
To Operate on INTELSAT              )         
Satellites Transferring to                 )
New Skies, N.V.                        )      
                              )            
                              )     


                             ORDER 


Adopted:  November 30, 1998                Released:  November 30, 1998

By the Chief, International Bureau:

                         I.  Background

     1.   By this Order, the Bureau grants requests for Special Temporary Authority
(STA) filed by various earth station operators.  The International Bureau finds that it is in the
public interest to grant the STA requests because earth station licensees will be able to continue
operations, using the New Skies satellites, pending final Bureau action on the underlying
applications.  

     2.   On March 31, 1998, the INTELSAT Assembly of Parties (Assembly) formed a
new, private satellite company, New Skies Satellites, N.V. (New Skies) which has been
incorporated in the Netherlands.  Specifically, the Assembly decided to transfer the following
INTELSAT satellites to New Skies: INTELSAT 513 at 183ø E.L.; INTELSAT 703 at 57ø
E.L.; INTELSAT 803 at 338.5ø E.L.; INTELSAT 806 at 319.5ø E.L.; and INTELSAT K at
338.5ø E.L.  Today, November 30, 1998, these satellites transferred to New Skies.

     3.   The Commission has licensed earth stations to provide international fixed-
satellite services (FSS) between the United States and other countries on INTELSAT satellites
that transferred to New Skies today.  On June 12, 1998, the Commission released a Public
Notice notifying earth station operators using the INTELSAT satellites that all of their
authorizations will terminate effective upon the transfer of the satellites from INTELSAT to
New Skies.  The Public Notice also notified earth station operators intending to continue to
serve the United States using a New Skies satellite to file modification applications by July 17,
1998.  As stated in the Public Notices in this proceeding, the Bureau will evaluate the
modification applications in accordance with the framework adopted in the DISCO II Order
concerning the provision of service in the United States by affiliates of INTELSAT and
Inmarsat.  The modification applications were accepted for filing and placed on Public Notice
on August 17, 1998.  Petitions to deny and comments were filed.  The pleading cycle closed
on October 5, 1998.

     4.   Recognizing that a final decision on the modification applications would be
unlikely before the transfer date, we informed earth station licensees providing service over the
INTELSAT satellites that they may submit requests for Special Temporary Authority (STA) in
order to continue to provide existing services to customers after the asset transfer but pending a
Bureau decision on the modification applications.
                                
                        II.  Discussion
                                
     5.   In the DISCO II Order, the Commission stated that it would presume that
allowing affiliates of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), such as INTELSAT and
Inmarsat, licensed by WTO members, to serve the U.S. market would further competition in
the United States.  The Commission also reserved the right, however, to attach conditions to
the grant of authority or, in the exceptional case in which an application would pose a very
high risk to competition in the U.S. satellite market that could not be remedied by conditions,
to deny the application.  The Commission stated that when determining whether an application
to serve the U.S. market by an IGO affiliate raises the potential for competitive harm, it would
consider any potential anticompetitive or market distorting consequences of continued
relationships or connections between an IGO and its affiliate.

     6.   In order to evaluate the modification applications, in accordance with the
framework adopted in the DISCO II Order, we need a complete record that includes final
copies of all support service agreements negotiated between INTELSAT and New Skies as well
as other relevant documentation.  We understand that INTELSAT and New Skies are still
negotiating the final terms of many such documents which at this time are not yet complete. 
We will not be able to evaluate the modification applications until we have received these
documents and had an opportunity to analyze them.

     7.   Nevertheless, we conclude that the public interest will be best served by
allowing the continuation of existing services using the New Skies satellites, pending action on
the modification applications.  Thus, to ensure that existing earth station licensees are able to
continue operating, under our Title III authority, we grant temporary operational authority to
the earth station licensees that have filed STA requests to provide international FSS services on
the transferring satellites.  This authorization permits earth station licensees listed in Appendix
A to provide international FSS service using the specified INTELSAT satellite that, as of
today, became a New Skies satellite.  The STA authorizations will be in effect for six months
from the date of this Order or until the Bureau takes final action on the pending earth station
modification applications, whichever date is sooner.  The STA authorizations do not permit the
earth station licensees that filed the STA requests to provide any Direct-to-Home (DTH)
services, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) services, or Digital Audio Radio (DAR) services
because any request to provide these services requires submission of an effective competitive
opportunities showing.  

     8.   The authorizations here are temporary only and do not prejudice Bureau action
on the underlying applications.  Consequently, the earth station licensees operating with an
STA will be acting at their own risk and will be required to notify their customers that
operation of these facilities is on a temporary basis.  Furthermore, the STA authorizations are
subject to the condition that harmful radio interference shall not be caused to any other
lawfully operated radio station, and operation(s) shall cease immediately upon notification of
interference.  Complaints of all radio interference shall be forwarded immediately to the
Bureau, in writing.
                                
                     III.  Ordering Clauses

     9.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that pursuant to 47 U.S.C.  309 (f), the earth
station operators listed in Appendix A ARE GRANTED Special Temporary Authority to
operate via the INTELSAT satellites that transferred today to New Skies for the provision of
FSS service for a period beginning November 30, 1998 and ending May 29, 1999, subject to
the conditions specified in paragraphs 7-8 of this Order.

     10.  IT IS ORDERED that use of the downlink frequency band 10.95 to 11.2 GHz
and 11.45 to 11.7 GHz frequency band by the fixed-satellite service is limited to international
systems, and prior to each use of this band, OrionNet, Inc.(SES-STA-1998-1120-01702) shall
coordinate the earth station with terrestrial users in accordance with Section 25.203 of part 25
of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  25.203.

     11.  IT IS ORDERED that OrionNet, Inc. (SES-STA-1998-1120-01702) shall also
notify the Engineer-in-Charge at the Columbia Operations Center (301) 725-0555 prior to the
operation of the earth stations.  OrionNet, Inc. (SES-STA-1998-1120-01702) shall take steps to
immediately resolve any interference conflicts which it may cause, including cessation of all
operations, upon notification from the Engineer-in-Charge.

     12.  This authorization is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules
and is effective upon adoption.  Petitions for Reconsideration, pursuant to Section 1.106 of the
Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.106, may be filed within 30 days of the public notice of
this Order.


               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



               Regina M. Keeney
               Chief, International Bureau