
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC721]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
               CHAPTER 6--COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM
 
      SUBCHAPTER II--FEDERAL COORDINATION, PLANNING, AND REGULATION
 
Sec. 721. Implementation of policy

    In order to achieve the objectives and to carry out the purposes of 
this chapter--

(a) Executive functions; execution of national program; review; agency 
        coordination; supervision of foreign relationships; foreign 
        participation; use for general governmental purposes; separate 
        systems; compatibility with domestic and foreign facilities

    the President shall--
        (1) aid in the planning and development and foster the execution 
    of a national program for the establishment and operation,\1\ of a 
    commercial communications satellite system;
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    \1\ So in original. The comma probably should not appear.
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        (2) provide for continuous review of all phases of the 
    development and operation of such a system, including the activities 
    of a communications satellite corporation authorized under 
    subchapter III of this chapter;
        (3) coordinate the activities of governmental agencies with 
    responsibilities in the field of telecommunication, so as to insure 
    that there is full and effective compliance at all times with the 
    policies set forth in this chapter;
        (4) exercise such supervision over relationships of the 
    corporation with foreign governments or entities or with 
    international bodies as may be appropriate to assure that such 
    relationships shall be consistent with the national interest and 
    foreign policy of the United States;
        (5) insure that timely arrangements are made under which there 
    can be foreign participation in the establishment and use of a 
    communications satellite system;
        (6) take all necessary steps to insure the availability and 
    appropriate utilization of the communications satellite system for 
    general governmental purposes except where a separate communications 
    satellite system is required to meet unique governmental needs, or 
    is otherwise required in the national interest; and
        (7) so exercise his authority as to help attain coordinated and 
    efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum and the technical 
    compatibility of the system with existing communications facilities 
    both in the United States and abroad.

(b) Administration functions; technical advice to Commission; 
        cooperation in research and development and technical 
        consultation with corporation; assistance and launching, 
        associated services and other services to corporation on 
        reimbursable basis

    the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall--
        (1) advise the Commission on technical characteristics of the 
    communications satellite system;
        (2) cooperate with the corporation in research and development 
    to the extent deemed appropriate by the Administration in the public 
    interest;
        (3) assist the corporation in the conduct of its research and 
    development program by furnishing to the corporation, when 
    requested, on a reimbursable basis, such satellite launching and 
    associated services as the Administration deems necessary for the 
    most expeditious and economical development of the communications 
    satellite system;
        (4) consult with the corporation with respect to the technical 
    characteristics of the communications satellite system;
        (5) furnish to the corporation, on request and on a reimbursable 
    basis, satellite launching and associated services required for the 
    establishment, operation, and maintenance of the communications 
    satellite system approved by the Commission; and
        (6) to the extent feasible, furnish other services, on a 
    reimbursable basis, to the corporation in connection with the 
    establishment and operation of the system.

(c) Commission functions; competitive bidding; consultation with Small 
        Business Administration; discrimination; just and reasonable 
        charges, classifications, practices, regulations and other terms 
        and conditions; allocation of facilities; establishment of 
        communication to particular foreign point; technical 
        compatibility of system and stations; accounting; rates; 
        technical approval; construction and operation authorizations; 
        financing of corporation; additions; rules and regulations

    the Federal Communications Commission, in its administration of the 
provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended [47 U.S.C. 151 
et seq.], and as supplemented by this chapter, shall--
        (1) insure effective competition, including the use of 
    competitive bidding where appropriate, in the procurement by the 
    corporation and communications common carriers of apparatus, 
    equipment, and services required for the establishment and operation 
    of the communications satellite system and satellite terminal 
    stations; and the Commission shall consult with the Small Business 
    Administration and solicit its recommendations on measures and 
    procedures which will insure that small business concerns are given 
    an equitable opportunity to share in the procurement program of the 
    corporation for property and services, including but not limited to 
    research, development, construction, maintenance, and repair.
        (2) insure that all present and future authorized carriers shall 
    have nondiscriminatory use of, and equitable access to, the 
    communications satellite system and satellite terminal stations 
    under just and reasonable charges, classifications, practices, 
    regulations, and other terms and conditions and regulate the manner 
    in which available facilities of the system and stations are 
    allocated among such users thereof;
        (3) in any case where the Secretary of State, after obtaining 
    the advice of the Administration as to technical feasibility, has 
    advised that commercial communication to a particular foreign point 
    by means of the communications satellite system and satellite 
    terminal stations should be established in the national interest, 
    institute forthwith appropriate proceedings under section 214(d) of 
    the Communications Act of 1934, as amended [47 U.S.C. 214(d)], to 
    require the establishment of such communication by the corporation 
    and the appropriate common carrier or carriers;
        (4) insure that facilities of the communications satellite 
    system and satellite terminal stations are technically compatible 
    and interconnected operationally with each other and with existing 
    communications facilities;
        (5) prescribe such accounting regulations and systems and engage 
    in such ratemaking procedures as will insure that any economies made 
    possible by a communications satellite system are appropriately 
    reflected in rates for public communication services;
        (6) approve technical characteristics of the operational 
    communications satellite system to be employed by the corporation 
    and of the satellite terminal stations; and
        (7) grant appropriate authorizations for the construction and 
    operation of each satellite terminal station, either to the 
    corporation or to one or more authorized carriers or to the 
    corporation and one or more such carriers jointly, as will best 
    serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. In 
    determining the public interest, convenience, and necessity the 
    Commission shall authorize the construction and operation of such 
    stations by communications common carriers or the corporation, 
    without preference to either;
        (8) authorize the corporation to issue any shares of capital 
    stock, except the initial issue of capital stock referred to in 
    section 734(a) of this title, or to borrow any moneys, or to assume 
    any obligation in respect of the securities of any other person, 
    upon a finding that such issuance, borrowing, or assumption is 
    compatible with the public interest, convenience, and necessity and 
    is necessary or appropriate for or consistent with carrying out the 
    purposes and objectives of this chapter by the corporation;
        (9) insure that no substantial additions are made by the 
    corporation or carriers with respect to facilities of the system or 
    satellite terminal stations unless such additions are required by 
    the public interest, convenience, and necessity;
        (10) require, in accordance with the procedural requirements of 
    section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended [47 U.S.C. 
    214], that additions be made by the corporation or carriers with 
    respect to facilities of the system or satellite terminal stations 
    where such additions would serve the public interest, convenience, 
    and necessity; and
        (11) make rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of 
    this chapter.

(Pub. L. 87-624, title II, Sec. 201, Aug. 31, 1962, 76 Stat. 421; Pub. 
L. 103-414, title III, Sec. 304(b)(1), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4297.)

                       References in Text

    The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, referred to in subsec. 
(c), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, as amended, which is 
classified principally to chapter 5 (Sec. 151 et seq.) of this title. 
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of 
this title and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103-414 struck out ``as expeditiously 
as possible,'' after ``establishment and operation,''.

                        Executive Order No. 11191

    Ex. Ord. No. 11191, Jan. 4, 1965, 30 F.R. 29, as amended by Ex. Ord. 
No. 11556, Sept. 4, 1970, 35 F.R. 14193, which related to the 
administration of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 [this 
chapter], was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12046, Mar. 27, 1978, 43 F.R. 
13349, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 735, 902 of this title.
