FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 3, 2000


PRESS STATEMENT OF FCC CHAIRMAN WILLIAM E. KENNARD ON THE 
APPROVAL OF INTELSAT’S LICENSE APPLICATIONS

	The approval of INTELSAT’s licenses is an important step in promoting 
competition for the benefit of consumers.

Congress, the Administration and this Commission have long viewed the 
privatization of INTELSAT as necessary for achieving competition in satellite 
communications.  Through this action, we are implementing the recently-enacted ORBIT 
Act, which establishes a framework for U.S. satellite policy.  Authorizing INTELSAT to 
become an FCC licensee should provide a strong impetus to the international negotiations 
that are now taking place to privatize INTELSAT next year.  Today’s action also should 
demonstrate to other countries in those negotiations that U.S. policies and procedures are 
fair and transparent, and that the Commission issues licenses with the goal of promoting 
competition.

This action also provides the opportunity to pursue one of the goals I feel most 
strongly about - expanding access in developing countries.  Many countries rely on 
INTELSAT as the primary, if not only, means of connecting to the rest of the world.  
Maintaining global connectivity is essential to the economies of those countries as they 
seek to expand their telecom infrastructures.  The licenses that we issue today permit 
INTELSAT to continue to undertake its obligation to provide lifeline connectivity 
services.   In addition, FCC licensing of INTELSAT allows the Commission to work 
more closely with INTELSAT to support our common goals to support expanded access 
to thin route countries.  I am deeply and personally committed to ensuring that the needs 
of INTELSAT’s lifeline users are met and look forward to working with INTELSAT 
towards that goal in the future.

Finally, we have before us a unique situation: the authorization of the already 
operating system of an intergovernmental organization that is undergoing privatization.  
This system has never been subject to a national licensing regime.  In this respect, we are 
rejecting the demands of those who believe we should not take steps to accommodate this 
transition.  Our failure to take these steps would have resulted in added costs and service 
delays that would weaken INTELSAT both as a competitor and provider of access to the 
developing world.

- FCC -