U.S. policy goals for promoting a competitive global...

U.S. policy goals for promoting a competitive global market for satellite communications services are being met in accordance with the Open-Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications (ORBIT) Act, the FCC said in its 15th ORBIT Act report to Congress released Wednesday. Intelsat said it faces numerous and legitimate competitors, “including fiber optic cable, broadband-enabled IP applications, and terrestrial wireless platforms,” the report said (http://bit.ly/1pHWSVz). Intelsat said it faces robust competition “which proves that it does not enjoy any market advantages resulting from its days as an intergovernmental organization,” the report said. Inmarsat invests in new technologies, including its deployment of its fourth-generation network, it said. The company said it continues to introduce new services, the report said. The commission is required to provide annual reports on the impact of the privatization of Inmarsat and Intelsat. Commissioner Ajit Pai reiterated in a statement his support of the FCC Consolidated Reporting Act, HR-2844, as a step toward repealing outdated reporting requirements like the ORBIT Act report (http://bit.ly/1u8iEBZ). The bill would more closely align the FCC’s responsibilities with today’s marketplace, he said. It would give Congress and the public a “one-stop shop for (more) relevant and comprehensive data, facilitating better oversight and more informed policymaking,” he said.