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                                                         DA 98-1869
                                                       

Report No. SPB-138a                            September 15, 1998


                       INTERNATIONAL BUREAU
              SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH INFORMATION:
                                

     1.  R/L DBS Company LLC ("R/L DBS"), has voluntarily surrendered its western channel
assignment at the 166ø W.L. orbital location.  

     2.  Continental Satellite Corporation ("Continental") was granted a construction permit to construct
a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) system in 1989.  Continental Satellite Corporation, 4 FCC2d 6292
(1989).  In 1995, Continental was assigned eleven channels in order to provide western half-CONUS
service on odd-numbered channels 1-21 at orbital position 166ø W.L.  Continental Satellite Corporation,
10 FCC Rcd 10473, 10479 (1995).  In 1997, Continental was authorized to assign its construction permit
for its assigned channels, including its channels at 166ø W.L., to R/L DBS.  R/L DBS Company, DA 97-
725 (Int'l Bureau, rel. May 14, 1997).  

     3.  R/L DBS voluntarily surrendered its assigned channels at the 166ø W.L. location on September
14, 1998 in a letter to Regina M. Keeney, Chief, International Bureau from John P. Stern, Counsel for
Loral on behalf of R/L DBS.  Accordingly, the construction permit for those channels is hereby cancelled.  

     Copies of the letter from R/L DBS will be available for public inspection in the International
Reference Center, Room 102, 2000 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C.  For further information, contact Chris
Murphy, International Bureau (202) 418-2373.

                             - FCC -