Attachment Motient TMI joint pe

This document pretains to SAT-ASG-20010302-00017 for Assignment on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATASG2001030200017_935320

                                                                            DUPLICATE
                                          Before the                                RECEIVED
                             Federal Communications Commission
                                    Washington, D.C. 20554                            APR 1 8 2001
                                                                                FEDERAL COMMUNIEATIONS COMMIGBION
In the Matter of                                     )                               $oe it t
                                                     )
Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC             )       m
                                                     )
TMI Communications and Company,                      )       File No. SES—ASG—20010116—00099
Limited Partnership                                  )

                                JOINT PETITION TO DEFER

       Motient Services Inc. ("Motient‘), a U.S. corporation, and TMI Communications and

Company, Limited Partnership ("TMI"), a Canadian limited partnership, and the Federal Bureau

of Investigation ("FBI") and the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), (collectively, the "Parties"),

through their attorneys, respectfully request that the Federal Communications Commission

("Commission") (a) accept this Petition and (b) defer grant of the above—captioned applications

pending a resolution by the Parties of those aspects of the applications that the FBI and DOJ

believe may raise potential national security, law enforcement, and public safety issues.

       In the above—captioned applications, Motient and TMI seek approval from the

Commission to assign numerous space station and earth station licenses held by Motient and

TMI to Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC ("MSV Sub"). Upon consummation of the

transactions contemplated in the applications, MSV Sub will be formed as a Delaware limited

liability company and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mobile Satellite Ventures L.P., a

Delaware limited partnership that will be managed by a Delaware corporate general partner,

Mobile Satellite Ventures GP Inc. ("MSV GP"). TMI will own approximately 27.2% of the

voting and equity interests in MSV LP and MSV GP. Thus, MSV Sub will exceed the 25%
                                                                             wase


indirect foreign ownership threshold of Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as

amended. Motient and TMI have sought a declaratory ruling from the Commission that indirect

foreign ownership in excess of 25% would serve the public interest. In addition, in the MSV Sub

application, MSV Sub proposes to use a fixed earth station and switching facility in Ottawa,

Canada but to route calls to and from United States customers through a United States point of

presence in Reston, Virginia.‘

       Because the FBI and the DOJ believe that the integrity of U.S. telecommunications

services is critical to the ability of our government to satisfy its obligations to preserve the

national security, enforce the laws, and maintain the safety of the public, the FBI and the DOJ

have previously availed themselves of the opportunity under Sections 214 and 310 of the Act,

and implementing regulations, to comment regarding the public interest concerns raised by

particular transactions. In the Foreign Participation Order, the Commission said that, in

reviewing license applications from foreign carriers under Sections 214 and 310(b)(4) of the

Communications Act, it would: (1) continue to apply the public interest test, and (2) "continue

to find national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and trade policy concerns relevant to

our decision to grant or deny Section 214 and 310(b)(4) applications from applicants from WTO

Member[s]."" The Commission elaborated by saying that:



       ‘MSV Application, File No. File No. SAT—ASG—20010302—00017 et. al, at page 6.

        In the Matter ofRules and Policies ofForeign Participation in the U.S.
Telecommunications Market, 12 FCC Red 23,891, € 61 (Nov. 1997). The presumption the
Commission has adopted "in favor of entry for foreign participation applies only to competition
concerns that may arise because of a foreign carrier‘s market power in a foreign market." Id. at 4
57. Concerns relating to national security, law enforcement, and public safety are to be given
consideration independent of any competitive concerns presented by the transaction.


               [W)e realize that foreign participation in the U.S. telecommunications market may
               implicate significant national security or law enforcement issues uniquely within
               the expertise of the Executive Branch. . ..

               We thus will continue to accord deference to the expertise of Executive Branch
               agencies in identifying and interpreting issues of concern related to national
               security, law enforcement, and foreign policy that are relevant to an application
               pending before us.‘

       It is the opinion of the FBI and the DOJ that granting the authority requested by the

parties in this transaction without sufficient conditions could present impediments to the ability

of our government to meets its obligations to the citizens to preserve the national security,

enforce the laws and protect the public safety. Since the filing of the above—captioned

applications, representatives of Motient and MSV Sub have briefed the FBI and the DOJ

regarding the nature of their proposed venture. Motient, TMI, and MSV Sub are currently and in

good faith working diligently towards the execution of an agreement with the FBI and DOJ to

address the potential threats posed to national security, law enforcement, and public safety that

the FBI and the DOJ believe are presented by the above—captioned applications. Accordingly,

the Parties jointly urge the Commission to defer approving the above—captioned applications

absent such an agreement and the imposition of appropriate conditions.

       Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the Parties respectfully request that the Commission

accept for filing the instant Petition to Defer with regard to the captioned applications and defer

grant of the above—captioned applications pending an agreement among the Parties to resolve the




        Id. at 4 62—63.


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                  concerns addressed herein, and the imposition of the terms of such agreement as conditions to

                  the authority granted.

                  Date: April 18, 2001


                                                                   Augllalild
                                                                      Mary—Elien Warlow
                                                                      Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General
                                                                      Criminal Division
                                                                      DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                                                                      950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
                                                                      Washington, D.C. 20530
                                                                      (202) 514—0008

                                                                      Department ofJustice




                                                                      Bruce D. Jacobs
                                                                      SHAW PITTMAN
                                                                      2300 N Street, NW.
                                                                      Washington, DC 20037
                                                                      (202) 663—8000

                                                                      Counsel for Motient Services Inc. and
                                                                      Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC




                                                                      Gregory C. Staple
                                                                      VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.
                                                                      1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                                                                      Washington, DC 20004—1008
                                                                      (202) 639—6500

                                                                      Counsel for TMI Communications and
                                                                      Company, Limited Partnership


concerns addressed herein, and the imposition of the terms of such agreement as conditions to the

authority granted.

Date: April 18, 2001




                                                    Mary Ellen Warlow
                                                    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General
                                                    Criminal Division
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                                                   950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                                                   Washington, D.C. 20530
                                                   (202) 514—0008




                                                    An
                                                   Department ofJustice




                                                   Bruce D. Jacob
                                                   SHAW PITT
                                                   2300 N Street, NW.
                                                   Washington, DC 20037
                                                   (202) 663—8000

                                                   Counsel for Motient Services Inc. and
                                                   Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC




                                                   Gregory C. Staple
                                                   VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.
                                                    1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                                                   Washington, DC 20004—1008
                                                   (202) 639—6500

                                                   Counsel for TMI Communications and
                                                   Company, Limited Partnership


concerns addressed herein, and the imposition of the terms of such agreement as conditions to the

authority granted.

Date: April 18, 2001




                                                    Mary Ellen Warlow
                                                    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General
                                                    Criminal Division
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                                                    950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
                                                    Washington, D.C. 20530
                                                    (202) 514—0008

                                                    Department ofJustice




                                                    Bruce D. Jacobs
                                                    SHAW PITTMAN
                                                    2300 N Street, NW.
                                                    Washington, DC 20037
                                                    (202) 663—8000

                                                    Counsel for Motient Services Inc. and
                                                    Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC




                                                    C %&\m
                                                    V       & EL INS L.L. P
                                                    1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                                                    Washington, DC 20004—1008
                                                    (202) 639—6500

                                                    Counsel for TMI Communications and
                                                    Company, Limited Partnership


                                       CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

         I, Sylvia A. Davis, a secretary with the law firm of Shaw Pittman, hereby certify that on

 this 18th day of April 2001, served a true copy of the foregoing "JOINT PETITION TO

 DEFER" upon the following: .

 Tom Tycz*                                            John Coles*
 Chief                                                Satellite Policy Branch
 Satellite & Radiocommunication Division              Satellite & Radiocommunication Division
 International Bureau                                 International Bureau
 Federal Communications Commission                    Federal Communications Commission
 445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                             445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
 Washington, D.C. 20554                               Washington, D.C. 20554

 Rebecca Arbogast*                                    Ronald Repasi*
 Chief                                                Chief
 Telecommunication Division                           Satellite Engineering Branch
 International Bureau                                 Satellite & Radiocommunication Division
 Federal Communications Commission                    International Bureau
 445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                             Federal Communications Commission
 Washington, D.C. 20554                               445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
                                                      Washington, D.C. 20554

 Karl Kensinger*®                                     Sylvia Lam*
 Special Advisor                                      Satellite Engineering Branch
 Satellite & Radiocommunication Division              Satellite & Radiocommunication Division
 International Bureau                                 International Bureau
 Federal Communications Commission                    Federal Communications Commission
 445 Twelfth Street, S.W.                             445 Twelfth Street, S.W.
 Washington, D.C. 20554                               Washington, D.C. 20554

Claudia Fox*
Policy and Facilities Branch
Telecommunications Division
International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 Twelfth Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554

International Transcription Services, Inc*
445 12th Street, SW.
Room CY—B402
Washington, DC 20554



 *Via Hand Delivery


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Sylyia A. Davis



Document Created: 2012-01-13 15:00:04
Document Modified: 2012-01-13 15:00:04

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