//$Order, Preparations for ITU Radio Conf.,AD 3-3-95, Rlsd 3-6-95, DA 95-421//$ //$FOR FCC RECORD ONLY//$ "FOR FCC RECORD ONLY" DA 95-421 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Preparation for International ) Telecommunication Union World ) IC Docket No. 94-31 Radiocommunication Conferences ) ORDER Adopted: March 3, 1995 Released: March 6, 1995 By the Chief, International Bureau: 1. COMSAT Corporation's COMSAT Mobile Communications Division (COMSAT) requests that the time for filing reply comments to the Second Notice of Inquiry in this proceeding be extended from March 21, 1995, to April 14, 1995. COMSAT represents that its request is supported by American Mobile Satellite Corporation, Iridium, Inc., Loral/Qualcomm Partnership, L.P., and TRW, Inc. 2. This proceeding seeks comment on a broad range of complex and technical issues to assist the Commission in preparing draft U.S. proposals for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-95) to be convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland from October 23 to November 17, 1995. The FCC draft U.S. proposals resulting from this proceeding will be considered by the Departments of State and Commerce in forging final U.S. proposals for WRC-95. Final U.S. proposals must be transmitted to the ITU by June 23, 1995. 3. In its request, COMSAT states that it and many other interested parties are now actively participating in preparations for two international meetings taking place later this month relating to WRC preparations; in the Commission's WRC-95 Industry Advisory Committee (IAC); and in preparing comments to the Commission's 2 GHz allocation proceeding. COMSAT asserts that in view of these activities, and because of the complex nature and significance of the issues posed in the Second Notice of Inquiry, the March 21st deadline does not allow sufficient time for full development of reply comments. In particular, COMSAT notes that it and others are engaged in the U.S. preparations for the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) for WRC-95 that will occur in Geneva from March 22 to April 5, 1995. The CPM will complete a Report to WRC-95 containing technical, operational, and regulatory/procedural information on the WRC-95 agenda items. COMSAT contends that postponing the reply comment deadline until after the CPM's conclusion would enable the parties to incorporate the results of that meeting into their reply comments thereby making them more informative and valuable to the Commission. Finally, COMSAT recognizes that the Commission is under extreme time constraints to draft U.S. proposals in time for negotiation with other government entities. It avers that the requested extension will not disrupt this process nor the IAC's completion of its Final Report due to the Commission on May 1, 1995. 4. Although the Bureau does not routinely grant extension requests, we find that an extension of the reply comment deadline to April 14, 1995 would be beneficial in this proceeding as it would enable the parties to include valuable and potentially critical information learned at the CPM. We ask the parties participating in the CPM to incorporate the results of the meeting into their reply comments and to include, where possible, their views on the likely success of potential U.S. proposals at WRC- 95 and where known, the views of foreign delegations. The parties should note, however, that the Bureau remains committed to complete this proceeding on a timely basis and that no further extensions are contemplated. 5.. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.261, IT IS ORDERED THAT the deadline for filing reply comments in response to the Second Notice of Inquiry IS EXTENDED to April 14, 1995. Federal Communications Commission Scott Blake Harris Chief, International Bureau