July 1, 1996  


                                                                 FCC 96-295

                    CONCURRING SEPARATE STATEMENT OF
                COMMISSIONER RACHELLE B. CHONG IN WHICH 
                   COMMISSIONER JAMES H. QUELLO JOINS
                                    

Re:  Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 1996, Report and Order, MD
     Docket No. 96-84

     I concur in the issuance of this Report and Order.  I am concerned, however, about the
establishment of the Signatory fee imposed on the Communications Satellite Corporation
(Comsat).  Although I agree that as a legal matter the Commission may establish this fee, as a
policy matter, it seems inappropriate that these costs should be borne by Comsat alone. 
Comsat benefits from the regulatory work we do to oversee its function as the U.S. Signatory
to INTELSAT and INMARSAT, but other carriers who use these facilities benefit as well. 
Logically, these other carriers should be asked to share these costs.  
     I would prefer to make adjustments to our fee structure to more fairly allocate the costs
designated as the Signatory fee.  I understand, however, that because of a variety of constraints,
we cannot do so at this time.  Thus, to ensure that we collect our regulatory fees as required by
Congress, and because in this item we have indicated our intent to explore other means of
recovering these costs in the future, I concur in this Report and Order.