
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 47USC753]

 
          TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
 
               CHAPTER 6--COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SYSTEM
 
    SUBCHAPTER V--INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
 
Sec. 753. Implementation of policy


(a) Administrative functions; agency coordination; use for general 
        governmental purposes; separate systems; spectrum and orbital 
        space use; compatibility with domestic and foreign facilities; 
        interests and needs of ultimate users; Federal views on 
        utilization and user needs

    The Secretary of Commerce shall--
        (1) coordinate the activities of Federal agencies with 
    responsibilities in the field of telecommunications (other than the 
    Commission), so as to ensure that there is full and effective 
    compliance with the provisions of this subchapter;
        (2) take all necessary steps to ensure the availability and 
    appropriate utilization of the maritime satellite telecommunications 
    services provided by INMARSAT for general governmental purposes, 
    except in any case in which a separate telecommunications system is 
    required to meet unique governmental needs or is otherwise required 
    in the national interest;
        (3) exercise his authority in a manner which seeks to obtain 
    coordinated and efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum and 
    orbital space, and to ensure the technical compatibility of the 
    space segment with existing communications facilities in the United 
    States and in foreign countries; and
        (4) take all necessary steps to determine the interests and 
    needs of the ultimate users of the maritime satellite 
    telecommunications system and to communicate the views of the 
    Federal Government on utilization and user needs to INMARSAT.

(b) Executive functions; supervision and instructions for foreign 
        relationships and activities

    The President shall exercise such supervision over, and issue such 
instructions to, the corporation in connection with its relationships 
and activities with foreign governments, international entities, and 
INMARSAT as may be necessary to ensure that such relationships and 
activities are consistent with the national interest and foreign policy 
of the United States.

(c) Commission functions; institution of proceedings; recommendations 
        for issuance of executive instructions; public space segment 
        channel, construction, operation and other authorizations; 
        review; rules

    The Commission shall--
        (1) institute such proceedings as may be necessary to carry out 
    the provisions of section 752 of this title;
        (2) make recommendations to the President for the purpose of 
    assisting him in his issuance of instructions to the corporation;
        (3) grant such authorizations as may be necessary under title II 
    and title III of the Communications Act of 1934 [47 U.S.C. 201 et 
    seq., 301 et seq.] to enable the corporation--
            (A) to provide to the public, in accordance with section 
        752(c)(2) \1\ of this title, space segment channels of 
        communication obtained from INMARSAT; and
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    \1\ See References in Text note below.
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            (B) to construct and operate such satellite earth terminal 
        stations in the United States as may be necessary to provide 
        sufficient access to the space segment;

        (4) grant such other authorizations as may be necessary under 
    title II and title III of the Communications Act of 1934 to carry 
    out to the provisions of this subchapter;
        (5) establish procedures to provide for the continuing review of 
    the telecommunications activities of the corporation as the United 
    States signatory to the operating agreement or other pertinent 
    instruments; and
        (6) prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the 
    provisions of this subchapter.

(d) Commission regulatory instructions; conflicting and prevailing 
        instructions of President

    The Commission is authorized to issue instructions to the 
corporation with respect to regulatory matters within the jurisdiction 
of the Commission. In the event an instruction of the Commission 
conflicts with an instruction of the President pursuant to subsection 
(b) of this section, the instructions issued by the President shall 
prevail.

(Pub. L. 87-624, title V, Sec. 504, as added Pub. L. 95-564, Nov. 1, 
1978, 92 Stat. 2394.)

                       References in Text

    The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (c)(3), (4), 
is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1964, as amended, which is 
classified principally to chapter 5 (Sec. 151 et seq.) of this title. 
Titles II and III of the Communications Act of 1934 are classified 
generally to subchapters II (Sec. 201 et seq.) and III (Sec. 301 et 
seq.), respectively, of chapter 5 of this title. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of this title 
and Tables.
    Section 752(c)(2) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), 
was redesignated section 752(b)(2) of this title by Pub. L. 103-414, 
title III, Sec. 304(b)(5)(E), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4298.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 902 of this title.
