FCC Grants Intelsat Extension To Offer Services To Loral Customers

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a July 30 order, made public yesterday after Satellite Today‘s deadline, granted special temporary authority (STA) to Intelsat North America LLC to allow it to continue providing “additional services” to former customers of Loral Satellite Inc. and Loral SpaceCom (both Loral companies are in a debtor-in-possession status) for an additional 180 days — from Sept. 14, 2003 to March 14, 2005.

In the order, FCC noted SES Americom Inc. claimed that the FCC did not have the statutory authority to allow Intelsat offer “additional services” to Loral customers until Intelsat conducts an initial public offering as required by the Open-Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications (ORBIT) Act. The FCC said it will allow the extension while it is reviewing SES Americom’s claim.