[Federal Register: October 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 201)] [Notices] [Page 56347] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19oc99-71] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [DA 99-2148] International Bureau To Hold Public Forum on Submarine Cable Landing Licenses AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document announces a public forum on Submarine Cable Landing Licenses to be held by the International Bureau on November 8, 1999. The Commission is making this announcement to provide an opportunity for the public to identify issues that should be addressed in an upcoming proceeding. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Nightingale, Attorney- Advisor, Policy and Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau, (202) 418-2352 or Breck Blalcok at (202) 418- 0484. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Released: October 8, 1999. On November 8, 1999, from 3:00-5:00 pm, the International Bureau will hold a public forum to provide an opportunity for the public to identify issues the Commission should address in its upcoming proceeding to examine how its policies regarding licensing submarine cables might best promote competition and benefit consumers. The information we gather from this public forum may assist the Commission in its 2000 Biennial Regulatory Review. The forum is open to the public and will be at the Federal Communications Commission Headquarters, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room (Room TW-C305). The Bureau encourages users as well as facilities and service providers to attend. The Bureau intends that this public forum will provide an opportunity to raise, but not necessarily debate, issues related to the Commission's regulation of submarine cables. The Bureau does not intend that the public forum will include a discussion of the merits of pending Commission proceedings, such as pending proceedings involving applications for a cable landing license. Appropriate topics include, but are not limited to, the following: Streamlining or simplifying the Commission's cable landing license application and review process. --How can the Commission expedite the process, reduce burdens on applicants and the Commission, and minimize the information the Commission asks for in applications? Do the conditions routinely imposed on licenses remain necessary? What sort of ``ownership'' requires an entity to be a licensee on a cable landing license, and how much of a cable system must be owned by licensees? --Should the Commission consider separately ownership of backhaul and of landing stations? Common carrier vs. non-common carrier cable landing licenses. --Should the Commission maintain the distinction and what should the consequences be? Structural/ownership issues raised by certain cable systems. --Do certain ownership structures raise competitive problems? --How can the Commission address these problems? --In identifying ownership structures that may raise competitive concerns, how does the Commission draw the line? --Does the Commission need to define ``consortium''? --Does the corporate governance over certain cable systems raise competitive problems? Under what circumstances, if any, should price differentials, especially volume discounts, be restricted? How should the Commission address issues of competitive access to backhaul? Are there other competitive issues that the Commission should address in its upcoming proceeding? Are there other issues the Commission should address related to submarine cables? The purpose of the forum is not to discuss the merits of pending Commission proceedings (including cable landing license applications pending before the Commission) and is not otherwise part of a pending Commission proceeding. As such, the forum is not subject to the Commission's ex parte rules. To the extent a participant discusses the merits of a pending proceeding, the ex parte rules will apply with respect to the particular discussion. The Bureau invites parties wishing to discuss competition issues in depth to meet with the staff individually. The Bureau encourages users as well as facilities and service providers to meet with Bureau staff. Please contact Elizabeth Nightingale of the Bureau's Telecommunications Division, at 202-418-2352, to make arrangements. Any party wishing to make a formal presentation (no longer than 10 minutes) at the public forum should send an outline of the presentation to Elizabeth Nightingale. Parties also are welcome to make written submissions in lieu of speaking at the forum. Outlines of oral presentations and written submissions should be sent to Elizabeth Nightingale no later than October 29, either via facsimile to the Bureau's Telecommunications Division at (202) 418-2824, or by e-mail to enightin@fcc.gov. For information on obtaining a videotape of the forum, please contact the Commission's Audio-Visual Office at (202) 418-0460. Audio and video tapes of the forum may also be purchased from Infocus, 341 Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100 or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-27166 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P