Non-Voice, Non-Geostationary Mobile Satellite Service

The Commission has adopted rules and policies to govern the second processing round for the non-voice, non-geostationary mobile satellite service (``NVNG MSS'') also referred to as the ``Little LEO'' service. The Commission's rules adopted include a spectrum sharing plan that permits licensing five NVNG MSS applicants; financial qualification rules; rules requiring NVNG MSS licensees to time-share spectrum with existing commercial and government licensees; and a rule requiring second processing round applicants to file amendments to their applications to conform their applications to the rules adopted in the Report and Order. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 2, 1998. ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Connors, International Bureau, Satellite Policy Branch, (202) 418-0755; or Kathleen Campbell, International Bureau, Satellite Policy Branch (202) 418-0753. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report and Order in IB Docket No. 96-220; FCC 97-370, adopted October 8, 1997, and released October 15, 1997. The complete text of this Report and Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C., and from the Commission's world-wide-web page on the Internet (http://www.fcc.gov), and also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037. Because this Report and Order contains information collections that affect less than 10 persons and, therefore, is not subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. As required by Section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Commission has prepared a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``RFA'') of the expected impact on small entities of the proposals suggested in thi