Summary of
Satellite Privatization Bills
in the 106th Congress

This page summarizes the following bills:

• HR 1872 (105th Congress), Communications Satellite Competition and Privatization Act of 1998 (Bliley).
• S 376, Open-market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act, (Burns).
• HR 3261, Communications Satellite Competition and Privatization Act of 1999.
• S 151, an untitled bill pertaining to INMARSAT privatization, (Sarbanes).

HR 1872 (105th Congress), Communications Satellite Competition and Privatization Act of 1998.

Legislative History with Links to Related Documents.

• 6/12/97. Rep. Bliley introduced HR 1872 IH in the House.
• 5/6/98. HR 1872 EH passed by House of Representatives (105th Congress).
• 1/21/99. Letter from Sen. Burns and Rep. Bliley to Kennard.
• 1/22/99. Joint Statement of Sen. Burns and Rep. Bliley re satellite privatization.

S 376, Open-market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (ORBIT Act)

Sponsor. Conrad Burns (R-MT). Original Cosponsors. John McCain (R-AZ), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Richard Bryan (D-NV), Sam Brownback (R-KS). Additional Cosponsors. Max Cleland (D-GA), Kay Hutchison (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Ashcroft (R-MO), Bill Frist (R-TN), John Rockefeller (D-WV), Spencer Abraham (R-MI), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Kerry (D-MA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Trent Lott (R-MS), and Ted Stevens (R-AK).

Summary. S 376 seeks to promote competition in domestic and international market for satellite communications services by encouraging the privatization of the intergovernmental satellite organizations, INTELSAT and INMARSAT, and by reforming the regulatory framework of COMSAT Corporation.

Status. S 376 was introduced on February 4, 1999. It passed the Senate Commerce Committee on May 5, and the full Senate on July 1, 1999. The House substituted the language of HR 3261 for that of S 376 on November 10, 1999, and then passed that bill. On March 1, 2000, House and Senate conferees reached an agreement. The Senate approved the conference report on S 376 on March 2.

Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.

• 1/21/99. Letter from Sen. Burns and Rep. Bliley to FCC Chairman Kennard.
• 1/22/99. Joint Statement of Sen. Burns and Rep. Bliley re satellite privatization.
• 1/22/99. Sen Burns released a discussion draft of his satellite privatization bill.
• 2/4/99. S 376 IS introduced in the Senate.
• 2/4/99. Statement in Congressional Record by Sen. Conrad Burns.
• 2/3/99. S 376 referred to the Senate Commerce Committee.
• 3/25/99. Hearing on S 376 before the Senate Communications Subcommittee.
• 5/5/99. S 376 approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. See, Report No. 106-100.
• 7/1/99. S 376 passed the Senate.
• 11/10/99. The House adopted a substitute amendment which contained the language of HR 3261, and then passed S 376 as amended.
• 11/10/99. The House appointed conferees: Bliley, Tauzin, Oxley, Dingell, and Markey.
• 11/19/99. The Senate appointed conferees: McCain, Stevens, Burns, Hollings, and Inouye.
• 3/1/00. House and Senate conferees reach agreement.
• 3/2/00. The Senate passed the conference report on S 376 by unanimous consent.

HR 3261, Communications Satellite Competition and Privatization Act of 1999.

Sponsor. Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA). Original Cosponsors. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ed Bryant (TN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Chris Cox (R-CA), Tom Davis (R-VA), Peter Deutsch (D-FL), Robert Ehrlich (R-MD), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Mark Foley (R-FL), Vito Fossella (R-NY), Paul Gillmor (R-OH), Steve Largent (R-OK), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Metcalf (R-WA), Mike Oxley (R-OH), Chip Pickering (R-MS), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Heather Wilson (R-NM).

Summary. HR 3261 is very similar to the HR 1872 (105th Congress).

Status. HR 3261 was introduced on November 9, 1999, the day before the House took up consideration of S 376. On November 10 the House amended S 376 by substituting the language of HR 3261. On March 1, 2000, House and Senate conferees reached an agreement. The Senate approved the conference report on S 376 on March 2.

S 151, an untitled bill pertaining to INMARSAT privatization.

Sponsor. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD). No cosponsors.

Summary. S 151 is a very short bill which provides that "In order to ensure the continued provision of global maritime distress and safety satellite telecommunications services after the privatization of the business operations of INMARSAT, the President may maintain on behalf of the United States membership in the International Mobile Satellite Organization."

Status. S 151 was introduced on January 19, 1999. No action has been taken.

Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.

• 1/19/99. S 151 IS introduced in the Senate.
• 1/19/99. S 151 referred to the Commerce Committee.
• 1/19/99. Statement in the Congressional Record by Sen. Sarbanes.