We received no comments. 10530, we informed the Department of State of the transfer of control request. Applicants assert that all destination markets, including Peru and Chile, are WTO member countries. Applicants further assert that the market share in the international transport and local access markets of each of its affiliated foreign carriers in Peru and Chile is significantly less than 50 percent. We conclude, therefore, that STET's affiliated foreign carriers do not possess market power that would allow them to discriminate against unaffiliated U.S. carriers through control of bottleneck facilities in Peru or Chile, and we see no reason to deny Applicants' request to transfer control of the cable landing license of Americatel to STET on the basis of STET's foreign affiliations.
Additional cables serve the route, and more are coming on line.
Applicants assert that the proposed transfer of control will serve the public interest because Americatel will be backed by Telecom Italia, an entity with management experience, workforce and means to strengthen Americatel's ability to bring competitive integrated telecommunications services to consumers in the United States. Applicants state that the transfer of control will allow Americatel to manage its telecommunications operations more efficiently, thereby permitting greater investment in facilities, customer service and technological innovation. Therefore, Applicants state, the transfer of control will result in a company better equipped to accelerate its growth as a competitive telecommunications service provider. Finally, Applicants contend that the transfer of control will be consummated in a seamless fashion that will be transparent to customers and not in any way inconvenience or cause harm to Americatel's customers. Upon consideration of the record in this proceeding, and in view of the foregoing, we conclude that grant of the transfer of control sought in the Application will serve the public interest and is consistent with the Cable Landing License Act.