News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.govPUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 1919 M St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 Report No. IN 98-3 INTERNATIONAL ACTION January 16, 1998 Commission Seeks Comment On ITU Proposal For Cost Recovery For Space Notifications During the June 23-27, 1997 meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council, the subject of ITU cost recovery for registering and processing satellite notifications, as well as other products and services including terrestrial notifications, was addressed. The Council agreed to a resolution that adopted the principle of cost recovery for satellite registrations and notifications. The final text of Resolution 1113, Cost Recovery for the Processing by the Radiocommunication Bureau of Space Notifications, is as follows: The Council . . . resolves (1) to adopt the principle of full recovery of processing costs for the production of the Special Sections of the Weekly Circular for space radiocommunication services concerning advance publications, requests for coordination or agreement (Radio Regulations Article 11, Article 14, Resolution 33, 46, etc.) and requests for modification of space service Plans contained in AP30/30A/30B; (2) to instruct the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau to conduct a cost- recovery study to include detailed costs and draft provisions as well as the appropriate procedures so that the decision of the Council outlined in resolves 1 above can be implemented at the earliest possible date, taking into account the relevant decisions of WRC-97 and, in particular, those resulting from a consideration of Resolution 18 (Kyoto, 1994) and to submit this study to the 1998 Council for consideration; (3) to instruct the Secretary-General to develop fee schedules, for the activities listed in resolves 1, based on full cost allocation with a view to include income and expenditure in future budgets of the Union for consideration at the 1998 Council and, as appropriate, subsequent action by the Plenipotentiary Conference, 1998; (4) to instruct the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Directors of the three Bureaus, to identify other products and services that could be subject to cost recovery and to develop appropriate detailed provisions and associated procedures, including fee schedules based on full cost allocation, for consideration by the 1998 Council. As indicated in resolves (2), (3) and (4), the ITU will give further consideration to cost recovery at its next Council meeting in May 1998 and, as appropriate, for action at the Plenipotentiary Conference in October 1998. The Commission seeks comment on Resolution 1113. In particular, we seek comments on the appropriateness and feasibility of cost recovery by the ITU for the processing of space notifications. In addition, we seek comments on how, if adopted, ITU cost recovery fees should be administered within the FCC notification process. In particular, we seek proposals on how the Commission could continue to make the ITU notifications while ensuring that the applicant makes cost recovery payments directly to the ITU. Comments received will be used to develop US proposals to the ITU Council meeting and to the Plenipotentiary Conference on whether and how a space notifications cost recovery program should be implemented. Interested parties should send comments by February 27, 1998, and reply comments by March 27, 1998, to: Richard B. Engelman, Chief, Planning and Negotiations Division, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. All comments, as well as a copy of Resolution 1113, will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the International Bureau Reference Center, 2000 M Street N.W., Washington, D.C. Contact persons: Larry Reed (FCC) 202/418-2099, Richard Beaird (Dept. of State) 202/647-5832, and Richard Parlow (Dept. of Commerce-NTIA) 202/428-1850. -FCC-