FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 1999

Contact: Mary Hanley
(202) 482-7002

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING PERFORMANCE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL SATELLITE ORGANIZATIONS ON INTERNATIONAL ANTI-BRIBERY REQUIREMENTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Commerce Department today announced it is seeking public comment on progress made by Intergovernmental Satellite Organizations' (ISOS) signatories in providing full and open competition in their communications satellite markets. The Request for Comments is published in today's Federal Register.

The Department is required by the International Anti-Bribery and Fair Competition Act of 1998 to report to Congress on the progress made by ISO signatories in providing greater access to their satellite services markets. The 1998 Act implements the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials dealing with international business transactions.

The Department is seeking public comment on the advantages, in terms of immunities and market access in countries and regions served by the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT), a treaty-based global communications satellite cooperative, and the International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat), a maritime communications satellite system. Comments are sought regarding the reasons for such advantages, and an assessment of progress toward fulfilling a pro-competitive privatization of those organizations.

All interested parties are encouraged to participate by paper or electronic form. Paper submissions should include a diskette version in formats ASCII, Word Perfect (specify version) or Microsoft Word (specify version). Written comments are due May 12, 1999 and should be mailed to:

Milton Brown, National Telecommunications Agency (NTIA)
US Department of Commerce, Room 4713
14th and Constitution Aves., NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

Comments may be submitted in electronic form (in formats listed above) to isocomments@ntia.doc.gov. The Request for Comments also can be accessed through the Federal Register web site at www.access.gpo.gov. For further information, contact Milton Brown, (202)482-1816.

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For media inquiries, please call Mary Hanley, NTIA Public Affairs, at 202-482-7002, or visit NTIA's home page at http://www.ntia.doc.gov. NTIA serves as the principal adviser to the Executive Branch on domestic and international telecommunications and information issues.