September 15, 1999
                              
                              
      Press Statement of Chairman William E. Kennard 
            Concerning Direct Access to Intelsat
                              
                              
       Today we choose competition over closed markets; entrepreneurism over
  exclusivity; choice over monopoly.  In so doing, we are working to deliver to U.S.
  consumers lower prices for international satellites services, while enabling U.S. companies
  to compete in the global market on a level playing field with foreign companies that
  already have direct access to the INTELSAT system.
       Although alternatives are rapidly emerging, INTELSAT remains a critical source
  of international transmission capacity, especially to developing countries.  The United
  States, however, is only now taking advantage of a choice that has for sometime been
  available to consumers in 94 other countries.  
       In giving this choice to customers in the United States we have ensured that
  Comsat will be fairly compensated for those legitimate costs it incurs in its role as the
  United States Signatory to INTELSAT.  We also have taken certain measures to ensure
  that there will be no competitive distortions resulting from INTELSAT's direct entry into
  the U.S. market.
  
                          - FCC -