[Federal Register: October 24, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 65403-65404]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc02-97]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 4175]
Public Meeting With Interested Parties for the Department of
State and Other Agencies To Receive Views on Proposals To Modify and
Expand the Role of the International Mobile Satellite Organization
(IMSO)
AGENCY: Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs,
Office of the Coordinator for International Communications and
Information Policy.
ACTION: Notice of meeting and request for comments.
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DATE, TIME AND PLACE: Tuesday, November 19, 2002, 9:30 am-12 pm,
Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC.
SUMMARY: The International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
Assembly of Parties (member governments) has created an Intersessional
Working Group (IWG) to undertake a detailed study of a possible
extension or expansion of IMSO's mandate. The issue to be addressed at
this meeting is the role of IMSO in respect of the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), aeronautical safety services, and
service to rural and remote areas of developing countries, including
the principle and the legal methodology of a possible extension or
expansion of IMSO's mandate. The Department of State wishes to receive
the views of the public on the issues that will be addressed by the
IWG, the first meeting of which is scheduled for January 20-24, 2003.
The two principal issues that have given rise to the creation of
the IWG are: (1) Questions concerning the criteria for and potential
consequences of the recognition by the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) of additional service providers for the satellite
component of the GMDSS and any possible role for IMSO with respect to
such additional providers (currently, only Inmarsat Ltd. Of London is
recognized as a satellite service provider of GMDSS); and (2) formal
proposals of the Party of Denmark to amend the IMSO Convention to give
the IMSO an expanded mandate with respect to GMDSS, aeronautical safety
services, and mobile communications in rural and remote areas.
Currently, the IMSO oversees only Inmarsat, particularly with
regard to Inmarsat's provision of GMDSS services. The IMO, which has
responsibility for establishing maritime safety standards, has thus far
only recognized Inmarsat as a provider of the satellite component of
the GMDSS. However, questions have arisen out of the possibility that
the IMO may recognize additional satellite telecommunication companies
as GMDSS providers in the near future, and what the role, if any, the
IMSO should have in such a case.
The proposal of the Party of Denmark would expand the purpose of
the IMSO ``to ensure that one or more of the public interests set forth
* * * are met by each * * * entity or entities through which a mobile
satellite communications system is operated.'' The ``public interests''
are: ``(1) Ensuring the provision of global maritime satellite
communications services for the GMDSS; (2) ensuring the provision of
global aeronautical mobile satellite safety communications services;
and (3) seeking to serve all areas where there is a need for mobile
satellite communications, giving due consideration to the rural and
remote areas of developing countries.''
The Department of State will prepare comments and proposals on the
above issues to be submitted to the IWG participants before December
20, 2002. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit input and
suggestions from interested parties for use in formulating the U.S.
response that will be discussed at the January 2003 IWG meeting. The
Terms of Reference for the IWG, the amendment proposal of the Party of
Denmark, and certain other documents can be found on the Internet Web
page of the Office of the Coordinator for International Communications
and Information Policy: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/cip/.
Please confirm attendance at the meeting using the contact
information below. The meeting will be held in an informal roundtable
fashion. However, up to 15 minutes will be allocated to anyone who
wishes to make a formal presentation. Copies of written comments and
proposals to be discussed at the meeting should be provided
electronically seven days in advance and will be posted on the Web
page. Additional written comments (provided electronically) will be
accepted by the Department of State until December 4, 2002 and will be
posted on the Web page.
MAILING ADDRESS: Send comments to Brian Hunt, Office of the
Coordinator--International Communications and Information Policy, Mail
Code EB/CIP, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington DC
20520-5820. Paper submissions must include a copy on diskette in Word
or ASCII format.
[[Page 65404]]
Electronic copies may be sent via e-mail to huntbj@state.gov.
TO CONFIRM ATTENDANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For additional
information, contact Brian Hunt--voice: 202-647-5832, fax: 202-647-
5957, e-mail: huntbj@state.gov.
Dated: October 18, 2002.
Steven W. Lett,
Deputy U.S. Coordinator, International Communications and Information
Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-27153 Filed 10-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P