§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 send the Federal Communications Commission two lists of INTELSAT and Inmarsat member countries that are not in the World Trade Organization: one list of countries that block private satellite companies from their markets, and another list of countries that do not support competitive privatization of INTELSAT and Inmarsat. The Secretary must work with the FCC, the Secretary of State, and the United States Trade Representative and look at all of a country’s actions, including what happens at INTELSAT and Inmarsat meetings. When setting settlement rates for U.S. international carriers, the FCC must try to push U.S. policy that settlement rates be based on actual costs. The FCC must do this even if foreign carriers charge higher rates to U.S. carriers or if a transition period would normally apply, and it should promote cost-based settlements in international talks, including with INTELSAT and Inmarsat parties.