Public Notice SAT00150

Action Taken Public Notice

Satellite Space Station

2003-05-22

FCC.report > IB > Public Notices > SAT00150

Filings Included

File Number	Service
SAT-ASG-20030305-00023	Satellite Space Station

IBFS_PN_317512

No party has filed comments, petitions to deny, or any pleadings opposing the application listed above, and our own
review finds no issues that impede our grant. We find that the transaction is in the public interest, convenience, and
necessity, and grant authority for the assignment of the requested space station authorizations. See 47 U.S.C. § 310(d).
Under Astrolink's current ownership structure, LSAT Astro LLC (LSAT Astro), which is ultimately controlled by Liberty
Media Corporation (Liberty Media), holds a controlling 50.3% interest and Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications,
Inc. (LMGT) holds a 49.7% interest. Astrolink proposes to assign its Ka-band licenses to Astrolink Holding, a limited
liability company currently owned by Astrolink. Immediately after the assignment, Astrolink intends to transfer all of its
membership interests in Astrolink Holding to Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc. (LSAT), a subsidiary of Liberty Media.
LSAT intends then to immediately transfer all membership interests in Astrolink Holding to LSAT Astro Holding, Inc.
(LAH) a Delaware corporation wholly-owned by LSAT. LAH will ultimately be controlled by Liberty Media, the entity
that presently has an indirect controlling interest in Astrolink (the current licensee). See Astrolink Application at Exhibit
2.

On April 18, 2003, the Bureau authorized LMGT and LSAT Astro's redemption of Telespazio Luxembourg, S.A.'s (TSA)
22.8% interest in Astrolink. See International Bureau Grants Consent to Transfer of Control of Space Station Licenses,
Public Notice, DA No. 03-1106, Report No. SAT-00144, rel. April 8, 2003. The redemption of this interest resulted in LSAT
Astro and LMGT increasing their interests in Astrolink from 38.8% and 38.4% to 50.3% and 49.7%, respectively. On April
24, 2003, Astrolink notified the Commission that the parties consummated this transaction on April 8, 2003. See Letter
from Robert Horvath, Jr., Vice President and General Counsel, Astrolink, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, April 24, 2003. We note that Liberty Media has and/or will have an indirect controlling
interest in both the assignor (Astrolink) and the assignee (Astrolink Holding) in the proposed transaction. We have
previously found LSAT Astro, a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Liberty Media, to be a qualified transferee. See
Application of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Inc. and TRW, Inc., Transferors and Lockheed Martin
Global Telecommunications, Inc., TRW Inc., LSAT Astrolink LLC and Telespazio Luxembourg, S.A., Transferees, For
Authority to Transfer Control of Astrolink International LLC, Licensee of the Astrolink™ System, Order and
Authorization, 16 FCC Rcd 20502 (2001). We find no evidence to suggest that Astrolink Holding lacks the legal,
technical, and financial qualifications to hold FSS space station licenses.

By this approval, the parties are authorized to proceed to the final stages of their respective transactions. Section
25.119(f) of the Commission's rules provides that assignments and transfers of control must be completed within 60 days
from the date of authorization. 47 C.F.R. § 25.119(f). Within 30 days of consummation, licensees must notify the
Commission by letter of the date of consummation. Id. We remind the parties that an assignment or a transfer shall not
be considered complete until the underlying transaction closes and all conditions set forth in the grant documents,
including this Public Notice and the application, are met. Upon receipt of the notification required by Section 25.119(f) of
the Commission's rules, and satisfaction of all conditions, the Bureau will consider the assignment "complete."

Failure of the parties to comply with Section 25.119(f) of the Commission's rules, or any specific condition described
above, will result in automatic cancellation of the Commission's approval, and dismissal of the underlying application.

Grant of the application(s) listed above is without prejudice to any action that the Commission may take on any matter
related to the above listed application(s), including related assignment or transfer of control applications.

Notes:

An application related to the Astrolink Application was filed requesting approval to assign earth station authorizations.
See File No. SES-ASG-20030305-00274, Public Notice, Report No. SES-00479, March 12, 2003. This application is also
granted today. Notification of this action will be made public next week in the Actions Taken Public Notice.

For information regarding this notice contact the Satellite Division at (202) 418-0719, TTY (202) 418-2555.

This Public Notice is issued by the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau.

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Document Modified: 2019-04-12 02:55:49

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