§769 Definitions

Summary

Defines words used in this part of the law. It gives short, plain meanings for terms used later. INTELSAT — the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization set up under the INTELSAT Agreement. Inmarsat — the International Mobile Satellite Organization set up under the Inmarsat Convention. Signatories — the parties or their chosen telecom entities that signed an Operating Agreement (rules differ slightly for INTELSAT and Inmarsat). Party — a nation for which the INTELSAT or Inmarsat agreement is in force. Commission — the Federal Communications Commission. International Telecommunication Union — the U.N. agency where countries make telecom rules, including radio spectrum and geostationary orbit use. Successor entity — a privatized company created from INTELSAT or Inmarsat assets (but not a separated entity). Separated entity — a privatized company that got some assets before full privatization, including the entity discussed by INTELSAT as of March 25, 1998, but excluding ICO. Orbital location — a place on the geostationary orbital arc as defined by ITU radio rules. Space segment — satellites and the ground equipment that track, command, control, and support them. Non-core services — for INTELSAT, services other than public-switched voice telephony and occasional-use TV; for Inmarsat, services other than global maritime distress and safety services or other maritime/aeronautical services without alternative providers. Additional services — for Inmarsat, certain non-maritime/aeronautical mobile services in the 1.5 and 1.6 GHz bands on planned satellites or in the 2 GHz band; for INTELSAT, direct-to-home or direct broadcast video services or services in the Ka or V bands. INTELSAT Agreement — the Agreement Relating to INTELSAT. Headquarters Agreement — the INTELSAT Headquarters Agreement (November 24, 1976). Operating Agreement — the agreement opened for signature at Washington on August 20, 1971 for INTELSAT, and the Inmarsat Operating Agreement for Inmarsat. Inmarsat Convention — the Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organization. National corporation — a company whose ownership is held through publicly traded shares and is incorporated under national, state, or territorial law. COMSAT — the corporation created under subchapter III or its successor. ICO — the company known on March 17, 2000 as ICO Global Communications, Inc. GMDSS — the global maritime distress and safety system that uses satellites and advanced land systems for ship-to-shore distress alerts, search and rescue, and safety messages. National security agency — the National Security Agency, the Director of Central Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Coast Guard. If a term is not defined here, use the meaning given in section 153 of this title.