§763d Encouraging market access and privatization

Summary

Within 180 days after March 17, 2000, the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, must give the Commission two lists of INTELSAT and Inmarsat member countries that are not Members of the World Trade Organization: one list for countries that block private satellite market access, and one for countries that do not support pro-competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. The Secretary must make these choices with the Federal Communications Commission, the Secretary of State, and the United States Trade Representative, and must consider the country’s actions in all relevant forums, including the Assemblies of Parties of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. Notwithstanding any higher settlement rate an overseas carrier charges a United States carrier to originate or terminate international message telephone services, and notwithstanding any transition period that would otherwise apply, the Commission must, when setting settlement rates for United States international common carriers, try to further U.S. policy favoring cost-based settlements in all relevant international telecommunications forums, including meetings with parties and signatories of INTELSAT and Inmarsat.