[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 79 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21764-21765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10090]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FCC 00-105]


Maritime Communications

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission extends forbearance from the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended, requirement which forbids the assignment of a 
radio license or transfer of control of a radio licensee corporation 
without obtaining prior Commission consent to Public Coast Stations 
that are licensed and regulated under the Commission's Rules because 
these stations provide telecommunications for a fee directly to the 
public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Fickner or Ghassan Khalek, 
Policy and Rules Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
Memorandum Opinion and Order, WT Docket No. 00-48, FCC 00-105, adopted 
March 17, 2000, and released on March 24, 2000. The full text of this 
Memorandum Opinion and Order is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room CY-A257, 
445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC.

[[Page 21765]]

The complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. The full text may also be downloaded 
at: www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Notices/2000/fcc00105.doc. Alternative 
formats are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Martha 
Contee at (202) 418-0260 or TTY (202) 418-2555.
    In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission refers to 
Section 310(d) of the Communications Act, which forbids the assignment 
of a radio license or transfer of control of a radio licensee 
corporation without obtaining prior Commission consent. On February 4, 
1998, the Commission held that there was sufficient justification in 
the record to forbear from enforcing the requirements of Section 310(d) 
of the Communications Act as they apply to all telecommunications 
carriers licensed by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau). 
However, as noted by WJG MariTEL Corporation (MariTEL), when the 
Commission listed the categories of telecommunications carriers who 
were licensed by the Bureau, it did not include telecommunications 
carriers licensed and regulated under Part 80 of the Commission's 
Rules. Under the Commission's Rules, licenses in the Maritime (ship) 
Radio Services may not be assigned. Therefore, Maritime (ship) Radio 
Services licenses are not subject to Section 310(d) of the 
Communications Act. On the other hand, Public Coast Stations, which are 
located on land, may be assigned under the Commission's Rules. 
Accordingly, the Commission will grant MariTEL's request and will 
extend forbearance from the requirements of Section 310(d) of the 
Communications Act for pro forma applications to telecommunications 
carriers licensed and regulated under Part 80 of the Commission's Rules 
because these carriers provide telecommunications for a fee directly to 
the public.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-10090 Filed 4-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P