PUBLIC NOTICE![](media/image1.png){width="0.6541666666666667in"
height="0.6604166666666667in"}

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet:
http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov

DA 04-2421

Released: July 30, 2004

**SATAMATICS, INC, SATAMATICS WORLDWIDE LIMITED, AND RICHTEC PLC**

**SEEK FCC CONSENT TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF LICENSES AND AUTHORIZATIONS
AND A DECLARATORY RULING ON FOREIGN OWNERSHIP**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED**

**IB Docket No. 04-285**

**Petitions Due: August 30, 2004**

**Oppositions Due: September 9, 2004**

**Replies Due: September 14, 2004**

I.  **introduction**

Satamatics Worldwide Limited ("Satamatics Worldwide"), and Richtec PLC
("Richtec" and collectively with Satamatics Worldwide, the "Applicants")
have filed applications seeking Commission approval to transfer control
of an earth station license and domestic and international section 214
authorizations from Richtec to Satamatics Worldwide. Satamatics, Inc.
("Satamatics") requests a declaratory ruling that its proposed indirect
foreign investment would be consistent with the public interest.

Satamatics provides INMARSAT D+ services pursuant to domestic and
international section 214 authority and a blanket satellite earth
station license.[^1] Satamatics, a Delaware corporation, is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Satamatics Holdings, Inc. ("SHI"), also a
Delaware Corporation. SHI is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Richtec, which is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. [^2]
Pursuant to a stock purchase agreement, Richtec proposes to transfer
control of SHI and its subsidiary, Satamatics, to Satamatics Worldwide,
which is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales.

Satamatics requests a declaratory ruling that it would be in the public
interest for Satamatics to have indirect foreign ownership in excess of
25 percent. Satamatics states that it will continue to be a wholly-owned
subsidiary of SHI, and that after the transfer of control SHI will be a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Satamatics Worldwide. Satamatics Worldwide is
owned by four citizens of the United Kingdom (with ownership interests
ranging from 7 percent to 13.12 percent) and by two privately held
companies, Canterbury Limited and Liverpool Limited (each with a 28.43
percent ownership interest). Canterbury Limited and Liverpool Limited,
which are registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are wholly and
ultimately controlled by a citizen of Liechtenstein. The United Kingdom,
St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Liechtenstein are all World Trade
Organization ("WTO") member countries. Satamatics seeks a ruling that it
is permitted to have a total of 100 percent indirect foreign ownership
by Satamatics Worldwide and its shareholders. In addition, Satamatics
seeks approval to have up to and including an additional aggregate 25
percent indirect ownership interest from other unnamed foreign
investors.

The Applicants state that the approval of the transfers of control will
serve the public interest. They state that the proposed transaction will
have little impact on the day-to-day operations of SHI and Satamatics,
but will produce efficiencies in the business and financial operations
of the corporate structure above Satamatics.

The applications associated with this proposed transfer of control have
been assigned the following file numbers:

\(1\) the Petition for Declaratory Ruling under Section 310(b)(4): File
Number ISP-PDR-20040715-00006.

\(2\) the earth station application:

  ----------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------
  **[File                 **[Transferor]{.underline}**   **[Transferee]{.underline}**   **[Licensee]{.underline}**   **[Call
  Number]{.underline}**                                                                                              Sign]{.underline}**

  ----------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------- ---------------------

+----------------+---------+-------------+----------+----------------+
| SES-T/C-       | Richtec | Satamatics  | Sat      | E020074        |
| 20040715-01000 | PLC     | Worldwide   | amatics, |                |
|                |         |             | Inc.     |                |
|                |         | Limited     |          |                |
+----------------+---------+-------------+----------+----------------+

\(3\) the international section 214 authorization:

  ----------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------- -----------------------
  **[File                 **[Transferor]{.underline}**   **[Transferee]{.underline}**   **[Licensee]{.underline}**   **[Authorization
  Number]{.underline}**                                                                                              Number]{.underline}**

  ----------------------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------------------------- -----------------------

+----------------+---------+-------------+----------+----------------+
| ITC-T/C-       | Richtec | Satamatics  | Sat      | ITC-214-       |
| 20040715-00293 | PLC     | Worldwide   | amatics, | 20020228-00160 |
|                |         |             | Inc.     |                |
|                |         | Limited     |          |                |
+----------------+---------+-------------+----------+----------------+

Applicants also filed an application for consent to transfer control of
domestic section 214 authority for Satamatics, Inc. from Richtec PLC to
Satamatics Worldwide Limited.

Applicants request that to the extent any pending applications or any
subsequently filed applications for new facilities or for renewal or
modification of existing facilities, are granted prior to the closing of
this transaction that grant of the transfer of control would include
authority for Satamatics Worldwide to acquire control of any
subsequently granted authorizations or licenses.

Applicants also request streamlined treatment for the transfer of
control of the domestic and international section 214 authorizations
pursuant to sections 63.03(b)(2)(i) and 63.12 of the Commission's
rules.[^3] We find, however, that streamlined treatment is inappropriate
here because the applicants have filed related applications under Title
III as well as a petition for declaratory ruling pursuant to section
310(b)(4), which are unlikely to be resolved within the time periods for
streamlined domestic and international section 214 applications.

**GENERAL INFORMATION**

The assignment applications filed by the Applicant have been found, upon
initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the
right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is
determined to be defective and not in conformance with the

Commission's rules or policies. Final action on these applications will
not be taken earlier than thirty-one days following the date of this
Public Notice.[^4]

Interested parties must file petitions to deny no later than **August
30, 2004**. Oppositions to such pleadings must be filed no later than
**September 9, 2004**. Replies to such pleadings must be filed no later
than **September 14, 2004**. All filings concerning matters referenced
in this Public Notice should refer to **IB Docket No. 04-285**, as well
as the specific file numbers of the individual applications or other
matters to which the filings pertain.

Under the Commission's current procedures for the submission of filings
and other documents,[^5] submissions in this matter may be filed
electronically (*i.e.*, though ECFS) or by hand delivery to the
Commission's Massachusetts Avenue location.

-   **If filed by ECFS**,[^6] comments shall be sent as an electronic
    file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. In
    completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their
    full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket
    number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet
    e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters
    should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the
    following words in the body of the message, "get form \<your e-mail
    address\>." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply.

-   **If filed by paper**, the original and four copies of each filing
    must be filed by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight
    courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail
    (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
    Service mail). The Commission\'s contractor, Natek, Inc., will
    receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the
    Commission\'s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite
    110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are
    8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together
    with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of
    before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than
    U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to
    9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal
    Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be
    addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. All
    filings must be addressed to the Commission\'s Secretary, Office of
    the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

One copy of each pleading must be delivered electronically, by e-mail or
facsimile, or if delivered as paper copy, by hand or messenger delivery,
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Service mail (according to the procedures set forth above for
paper filings), to:

(1) the Commission\'s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing,
Inc., at <fcc@bcpiweb.com> or (202) 488-5563 (facsimile);

(2) JoAnn Lucanik, Satellite Division, International Bureau, at
JoAnn.Lucanik@fcc.gov, or (202) 418-0748 (facsimile);

(3)  Jeanette Spriggs, Satellite Division, International Bureau, at
Jeanette.Spriggs@fcc.gov, or (202) 418-0748 (facsimile);

(4)  David Krech, Policy Division, International Bureau, at
David.Krech@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1460 (facsimile);

\(5\) Tracey Wilson, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, at <Tracey.Wilson@fcc.gov> or (202) 418-1413 (facsimile); and

\(6\) William Dever, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, at William.Dever[\@fcc.gov](mailto:Tarcey.Wilson@fcc.gov) or
(202) 418-1413 (facsimile).

Copies of the applications and any subsequently-filed documents in this
matter may be obtained from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., in person at
445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, via
telephone at (202) 488-5300, via facsimile at (202) 488-5563, or via
e-mail at fcc@bcpiweb.com. The applications and any associated documents
are also available for public inspection and copying during normal
reference room hours at the following Commission office: FCC Reference
Information Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington,
D.C. 20554. The applications are also available electronically through
the Commission's ECFS, which may be accessed on the Commission's
Internet website at http://www.fcc.gov. Alternate formats of this public
notice (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, and Braille)
are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at
(202) 418-7426 (voice), (202) 418-7365 (TTY), or send an e-mail to
access@fcc.gov.

For further information, contact JoAnn Lucanik, Satellite Division,
International Bureau, at (202) 418-0719 or David Krech, Policy Division,
International Bureau, at (202) 418-1460.

**-FCC-**

[^1]: According to the Applicants, INMARSAT D+ service is a low cost,
    low data rate two-way short messaging and tracking system.

[^2]: The Commission approved the indirect foreign ownership of
    Satamatics by Richtec in 2003. *See International Authorizations
    Granted*, Report No. TEL-00673, 18 FCC Rcd 10734, 10735 (2003)
    (through a corporate restructuring subsequent to that approval, the
    authorization was assigned to Satamatics, Inc.).

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 63.03(b)(2)(i), 63.12.

[^4]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 309(b).

[^5]: *See* Implementation of Interim Electronic Filing Procedures for
    Certain Commission Filings, *Order*, 16 FCC Rcd. 21,483 (2001); *see
    also* FCC Announces a New Filing Location for Paper Documents and a
    New Fax Number for General Correspondence, *Public Notice*, 16 FCC
    Rcd 22,165 (2001); Reminder: Filing Locations for Paper Documents
    and Instructions for Mailing Electronic Media, *Public Notice*, 18
    FCC Rcd 16,705 (2003).

[^6]: *See* Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC
    Docket No. 97-113, *Report and Order*, 13 FCC Rcd 11,322 (1998).