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                                Report No. IN 98-50     INTERNATIONAL ACTION         September 3, 1998
                                
                                
      THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AGREE ON CONDITIONS FOR
                       IMPLEMENTATION OF  
      U.S. SATELLITE DIGITAL AUDIO RADIO SERVICES (DARS) 
                              AND 
 CANADIAN TERRESTRIAL DIGITAL RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES (T-DRB)
               ALONG THE U.S./CANADA BORDER AREA  


     The United States and Canada have agreed on technical conditions for implementation of
Terrestrial Digital Radio Broadcasting (T-DRB) services in Canada in the 1452-1492 MHz band and
Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (DARS) in the United States in the 2320-2345 MHz band.  As a
result, T-DRB service can be implemented immediately, and the launch of DARS can occur after a
transition period.  Coordination discussions regarding DARS are continuing with countries other than
Canada.  

     These agreed upon conditions are the result of negotiations that took place over several
years and involved complex inter-service frequency sharing considerations unique to the U.S. and Canada
in these two bands.  Although these bands are used for different services in Canada and the U.S., new
applications of digital technology will be introduced by Canadian and U.S. providers.  It is important to
note that the continued operation of U.S. aeronautical telemetry stations was a paramount concern in these
discussions.  Looking to the future, FCC Chairman William E. Kennard, stated, "This successful
negotiation will provide U.S.consumers access to innovative CD quality audio programming and will
promote new communications services using innovative satellite-delivered digital technologies."

     U.S. Ambassador Vonya McCann and Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister Michael
Binder exchanged letters that will allow both countries to begin to implement by September 1, 1998 the
technical conditions for the introduction of these new digital sound broadcasting services on either side of
the border.  Both the United States and Canada have pledged to work swiftly to convert these technical
conditions into binding international agreements. 

     In the interim both countries will implement these mutually agreeable conditions on an
interim basis, beginning on September 1, 1998.  Details of the conditions are available on the FCC internet
site for the International Bureau (http//www.fcc.gov/ib).

     For further information, contact Ronald Repasi, (202) 418-0768, Rosalee Chiara  (202)
418-0754 or  Larry Olson at (202) 418-2142, of the International Bureau. 

                             - FCC -