PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET N.W.
WASHINGTON, DC  20554


                             News media Information  202/418-0500
    Fax-On-Demand (202) 418-2830; Internet: http://www.fcc.gov (or ftp.fcc.gov)


Report No. SPB-146                                     January 7, 1999

                INTERNATIONAL BUREAU INFORMATION:
          COST RECOVERY FOR SATELLITE NETWORK FILINGS

     Resolution COM5/21 of the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU) Plenipotentiary
Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) instructed the post-conference 1998 Council to establish a Working Group
to develop a cost-recovery mechanism for the processing of satellite notification applications.  The Working
Group will prepare recommendations to the 1999 Council on a cost-recovery methodology and propose a
schedule of charges for various satellite systems.  The Working Group is open to all administrations and
satellite network operators who are members of the Radiocommunication sector of the ITU.

     A cost-recovery approach should meet the following principles.  First, cost-recovery should be
used to recover actual costs of processing satellite notifications.  Second, these actual costs should be
identified and their relationship to the satellite notification processing function made clear.  Third, satellite
network cost-recovery must lead promptly to improved data-capture software that flags errors fully and is
usable by non-technical personnel.  The Commission requests comments on the establishment of a
reasonable cost-recovery methodology and appropriate schedule of charges.  

     Specifically, we request comment on:  (1) which products, services, and activities should be
attributable to satellite notification processing, and which ones should not be attributable; (2) how much
cost is incurred for each of these attributable products, services, and activities;  (3) how should an
appropriate schedule of fees be calculated for the different space network filings based on these attributable
costs; and, (4) what should the amount of these fees be.  Comments should be filed by January 19, 1999. 
Comments should reference "Report No. SPB-146" and be directed to Cecily C. Holiday, Deputy Division
Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division, International Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, Room 500, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.   20554.

     The next meeting of the U.S. Satellite Network Cost Recovery Group will convene at 9:30 a.m.,
Thursday, January 21, 1999 in Room 1107 at the Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington
DC.        

     For further information, contact Cecily Holiday at (202) 418-0750 or Sande Taxali at (202) 418-
7586: TTY at (202) 418-2555.

                             - FCC -