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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Globalstar Telecommunications Limited GSAT -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: djane who wrote (4566)	5/13/1999 9:22:00 AM
From: Goodboy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

Another big event out of Iridium. Seems there intense efforts to find a new CFO to lead this $5 billion dollar sat phone pioneer yielded no takers. They just promoted Leo Mondale from a Senior Vice President to CFO. I wonder who will be promoted to CEO?

To: djane who wrote (4566)	5/13/1999 1:59:00 PM
From: djane	Respond to of 29987

Latest Lehman report on LOR/GSTRF (via LOR thread) lehman.com

To: djane who wrote (4566)	5/13/1999 2:06:00 PM
From: djane	Respond to of 29987

ViaSatellite. Implementing the GMPCS Model [Anyone want to interpret this article? djane] satellitetoday.com by Gerald E. Oberst Jr. In early March, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed to take several actions to facilitate the operation of mobile satellite services. In a notice of proposed rulemaking, the FCC proposed to implement elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) adopted under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS). Unless there are delays, comments for the notice should be filed this month. The GMPCS MoU was a major effort by the satellite industry to create a structure for this new service. It was formally approved by the ITU in May 1998. To date, more than 120 entities have signed on, including more than 50 countries and more than 50 private companies. The premises of the MoU are twofold: global GMPCS service can only be ensured if users can transport terminals across national territories without delay or fees, and the service should be encouraged through streamlining GMPCS terminal licensing. In brief, five separate parts of the MoU cover equipment certification, licensing, terminal markings, access to traffic data and customs treatment. Through its new proposals, the FCC signals its support for the MoU and gives a model that other countries can follow. Most of the FCC notice is aimed at equipment certification measures. Issues concerning marking and customs flow directly from that discussion. Current FCC rules for mobile earth stations do not require equipment certification, but instead rely on blanket licensing of user terminals associated with a particular satellite system. This approach is not consistent with the GMPCS MoU, however, which calls for administrations to certify GMPCS terminals and notify the ITU, which in turn will permit GMPCS operators and equipment manufacturers to place an ITU mark on the terminals. This mark notifies all countries that have signed the MoU that the terminals should be freely imported across their borders. The FCC proposes to change its rules and require certification of any terminals sold or leased in the United States, and to permit users to bring terminals into the United States so long as they bear the ITU mark showing that they have been certified in some other MoU country. Unmarked terminals will not be permitted into the United States. Manufacturers and operators will only be able to obtain equipment certification for terminals operating under a blanket license that system operators obtain for all terminals associated with their satellites. Although the FCC is not merging these licensing and certification procedures, it asks for comment on how and whether to streamline the two areas. A host of other questions arise in the FCC notice, such as coordinating with the U.S. Customs Service and what to do about dual mode cellular/GMPCS terminals. Also, in the same notice, the FCC proposes to adopt technical interference criteria for some GMPCS frequencies and asks for comment on whether to require terminals to provide enhanced emergency functions. The impression left by the FCC notice is that it is a smorgasbord of different proposals, all nevertheless aimed at facilitating the introduction of GMPCS equipment. The FCC action is welcome for creating further momentum towards implementation of the MoU. Already the more than 40 European countries that are members of the Conference of Posts and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) signaled their plan to adopt the MoU through proposals for free circulation, use and licensing of GMPCS terminals. South Africa, too, has issued proposals to implement the MoU. It is worth noting that the FCC asks if its proposals should apply only to terminals that can be easily transported across national borders or if it should also apply to all earth terminals, including those used for fixed services such as VSAT stations. The European proposals do not directly apply to VSAT equipment, due to the format of those proposals and not for policy reasons. To date, South Africa affirmatively started out exempting VSAT terminals, mainly to protect its existing national telecoms monopoly. The satellite industry has clamored for implementation of the GMPCS MoU and other harmonization measures as a means to speed the development of global services. The ITU activities behind the MoU were the first time that industry had acted on its own behalf, rather than through national delegations. While there may be nuances and side-issues in the FCC notice that will excite mixed comment from the industry, all in all, this is positive movement and should be encouraged on the global level. Gerry Oberst is a partner in the Brussels office of the Hogan & Hartson law firm. His email address is geoberst@hhlaw.com . Back to May 1999 Issue Copyright © 1999 Phillips Publishing International, Inc.