725 F.2d 732

233 U.S.App.D.C. 205

ITT WORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Public Broadcasting Service, Spanish International Network,
Inc., Communications Satellite Corporation, Public
Broadcasting Service, RCA Global Communications, Inc.,
American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., et al., American
Telephone and Telegraph Company, European Broadcasting
Union, Aeronautical Radio, Inc., et al., Intervenors.
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Public Broadcasting Service, Spanish International Network,
Inc., Communications Satellite Corporation, RCA Global
Communications, Inc., American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.,
et al., American Telephone and Telegraph Company, European
Broadcasting Union, Aeronautical Radio, Inc., et al., Intervenors.
ITT WORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Communications Satellite Corporation, American Broadcasting
Companies, Inc., et al., RCA Global Communications, Inc.,
Public Broadcasting Service, Spanish International Network,
Inc., American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Intervenors.
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of America.
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Communications Satellite Corporation, RCA Global
Communications, Inc., Public Broadcasting Service,
Intervenors.
ITT WORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Communications Satellite Corporation, RCA Global
Communications, Inc., Public Broadcasting Service,
Intervenors.
RCA GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Intervenors.
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Hawaiian Telephone Company, Intervenors.
TRT TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Southern Pacific Communications Co., Aeronautical Radio,
Inc., Hawaiian Telephone Co., FTC Communications,
Inc., GTE Telenet Communications
Corporation, Intervenors.
ITT WORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Southern Pacific Communications Co., Hawaiian Telephone
Company, Aeronautical Radio, Inc., GTE Telenet
Communications Corporation, Intervenors.
RCA GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Intervenors.
WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Intervenors.
ITT WORLD COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Intervenors.
TRT TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, Petitioner,
v.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION and United States of
America, Respondents,
Aeronautical Radio, Inc., Communications Satellite
Corporation, Intervenors.

Nos. 79-1046, 79-1049, 80-1318, 80-1414, 80-1947, 80-1972,
82-1992, 82-2077, 82-2082, 83-1241, 83-1244,
83-1245 and 83-1247.

United States Court of Appeals,
District of Columbia Circuit.

Argued May 17, 1983.
Decided Jan. 13, 1984.

Robert E. Conn, Washington, D.C., with whom William J. Byrnes, Washington, D.C., was on brief for petitioner, Western Union International, Inc., Petitioner in 79-1049, 80-1414, 80-1937, 82-1992 and 83-1244. Stephen C. Weingarten, Washington, D.C., also entered an appearance for petitioner.

Theodore J. Fischkin, New York City, for petitioner, ITT World Communications, Inc., petitioner in 79-1046, 80-1318, 80-1947, 82-2082 and 83-1245. Grant S. Lewis and John S. Kinzey, New York City, also entered appearances for petitioner.

Alan Y. Naftalin, Washington, D.C., with whom Margot Smiley Humphrey, Washington, D.C., Gregory C. Staple and Charles M. Lehrhaupt, New York City, were on brief for petitioner, RCA Global Communications, Inc., Petitioner in 82-1972 and 83-1241.

E. Edward Bruce, Thomas William Mayo and Lloyd D. Young, Washington, D.C., were on brief for petitioner, TRT Telecommunications Corporation. Petitioner in 82-2077 and 83-1247.

Bruce E. Fein, General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., with whom Daniel M. Armstrong, Associate General Counsel, John E. Engle, Deputy Associate General Counsel and Nancy E. Stanley, Asst. General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., were on brief, for respondents. Jane E. Mago, Sheldon M. Guttman, Robert R. Bruce, Attorneys, Federal Communications Commission, John J. Powers, III, Peter L. de la Cruz, Barry Grossman, Nancy C. Garrison and Frederic Freilicher, Attorneys, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., also entered appearances for respondents.

1

Sally Katzen, Washington, D.C., with whom J. Roger Wollenberg, Neal T. Kilminster and Lawrence M. DeVore, Washington, D.C., were on brief for intervenor, Communications Satellite Corporation. Barry M. Heller, Washington, D.C., also entered an appearance for intervenor.

2

John L. Bartlett, Washington, D.C., with whom Robert J. Butler, Washington, D.C., was on brief for intervenor, Aeronautical Radio, Inc. Charles R. Cutler and James E. Landry, Washington, D.C., also entered appearances for intervenor.

3

Joseph DeFranco, Howard Monderer, Joseph M. Kittner and Randolph J. May, Washington, D.C., were on brief for intervenors, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., CBS, Inc., and National Broadcasting Company, Inc. R. Michael Senkowski, Washington, D.C., also entered an appearance for intervenor.

4

Donald E. Ward and Philip M. Walker, Washington, D.C., were on brief for intervenor, GTE Telenet Communications Corporation.

5

Norman P. Leventhal and Meredith S. Senter, Jr., Washington, D.C., were on brief for intervenor, Spanish International Network, Inc. James A. McKenna, Jr., Washington, D.C., also entered an appearance for intervenor.

6

Thomas J. O'Reilly and Shelly Sternad Dempsey, Washington, D.C., were on brief for intervenor, Hawaiian Telephone Company. Daniel J. Greenwald, III, Washington, D.C., also entered an appearance for intervenor.

7

Harry M. Plotkin, Theodore D. Frank, Peter Tannenwald, and Cynthia L. Hathaway, Washington, D.C., entered appearances for intervenor, Public Broadcasting Service.

8

Edgar Mayfield and Shant J. Harootunian, Bedminster, N.J., entered appearances for intervenor, American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

9

Arthur Scheiner and Stuart F. Feldstein, Washington, D.C., entered appearances for intervenor, European Broadcasting.

10

Mark P. Bresnahan, Washington, D.C., entered an appearance for intervenor, Southern Pacific Communications Company.

11

Before EDWARDS, Circuit Judge, MacKINNON, Senior Circuit Judge and CELEBREZZE,* Senior Circuit Judge.

12

Opinion for the Court filed by Senior Circuit Judge CELEBREZZE.

13

CELEBREZZE, Senior Circuit Judge.

14

Petitioners1 seek review of a series of decisions2 made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In these decisions, the FCC has attempted to restructure the international telecommunications markets by heightening competition between the two principal modes of telecommunications: satellite systems and cable systems. Essentially, the decisions permit the Commercial Satellite Corporation (Comsat), which had functioned previously as a wholesaler of satellite services, to sell its satellite services directly to the public, a role which previously had been performed only by petitioners. By permitting Comsat to operate as a retailer of telecommunication services, the FCC expects to foster competition between satellite and cable systems and, thus, to promote greater efficiency in both systems. The issue in this case is simply stated: whether the FCC may permit Comsat to sell its satellite services to the general public and, if it may, whether it properly has exercised its power in this instance.

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

15

A. The International Telecommunications Industry. Two means of transmitting international telecommunications messages are generally available: cable and satellite. The United States communications common carriers3 own and operate the international cable network. The communications satellites in dispute are owned and operated by the International Satellite Telecommunications Organization (Intelsat).4 The Communications Satellite Corporation (Comsat) is the only United States entity permitted direct access to Intelsat's satellite system.5 Comsat, in turn, is authorized by Congress to provide satellite transmission service only to "authorized entities." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 735(a)(2). In 1966, the FCC established a policy which generally limited the class of authorized users to common carriers. Authorized Entities and Users, 4 FCC 2d 421 (1966) (Authorized User I ). As a consequence of the FCC's 1966 policy, a two-tiered market developed; Comsat acted as a "wholesaler" by leasing satellite circuits to the common carriers, who in turn, acted as "retailers" leasing satellite circuits to the public for transmission of international telecommunications messages.

16

When Comsat first offered commercial communications satellite service in 1965, the international telecommunications markets were rigidly compartmentalized; two separate and distinct classes of common carriers operated at the retail level: voice and non-voice. American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT & T) enjoyed a monopoly in the international voice communications market, while petitioners dominated the non-voice or record services market.6 Although technological developments in the international telecommunications industry have blurred the traditional distinction between "record" and "voice" systems, see, e.g., Overseas Communications Services, FCC 82-547 (1982), petitioners are still referred to as international record carriers (IRCs).

17

The IRCs provide two types of communications services: exchange and leased-channel. Exchange messages are sent through a common switched network which connects the users to other subscribers of the system. Examples of exchange-type services offered by the IRCs include telegraph,7 telex, and TWX.8 In contrast, a leased-channel is a private line between two or more specified points. Unlike exchange service, a leased-channel user leases all or part of a circuit at an agreed rate. Because leased-channel is more expensive than exchange service, and because the majority of users do not send a sufficient number of messages to require leased-channel service, the consumer market for leased-channel service is limited to a few large and sophisticated users.9

18

Generally, exchange services are provided by the IRCs on an "end-to-end" basis. As its name implies, end-to-end service is a complete service. When exchange messages are sent by satellite, the IRCs make necessary arrangements with a U.S. domestic carrier for connecting circuits between operating centers and U.S. earth stations. The IRCs then lease satellite half-circuits10 from Comsat to transmit messages from earth stations to satellites. To complete the communications link, the IRCs lease satellite half-circuits from Comsat's foreign counterparts and arrange for connecting links between foreign earth stations and final destination points. When exchange messages are sent by cable, the IRCs make necessary arrangements with U.S. domestic carriers to send exchange messages from hinterland operating centers to IRC operating centers in designated "gateway" cities.11 The IRCs then transmit the messages through their submarine cable system and make arrangements with foreign communication corporations for connecting links.

19

Although the IRCs can provide leased-channel service on an end-to-end basis, most leased-channel customers are capable of providing their own link-up facilities. Consequently, leased-channel service generally is not provided by the IRCs on an end-to-end basis; instead, the IRCs simply provide service between designated service points. When the point to point service is between a satellite and a U.S. earth station, the service is called "basic" transmission service.

20

B. Authorized User I and Earth Station Ownership Policies. In 1966, the FCC concluded that it had authority, pursuant to the Satellite Act of 1962, to designate non-carriers as authorized users "upon a proper finding that non-carrier access to the space segment would serve the public interest and comport with the purposes and policies of the Satellite Act."12 Authorized User I, 4 FCC 2d 421, 428 (1966). The FCC, however, restricted the class of authorized users to carriers, absent "unique and exceptional circumstances," in order to protect the IRCs from potentially ruinous competition. The FCC feared that unless the IRCs were insulated from such direct competition, Comsat would capture the leased-channel market, which accounted for approximately 18.9 percent of the IRCs' total revenues, and that the IRCs would be forced to raise their rates for exchange services. Id. at 433. Because the cost benefits of satellite technology would inure to a few leased-channel customers at the expense of many exchange service customers, id. at 432-33, the FCC concluded that such a result would be inconsistent with the primary policy of the Satellite Act to extend the benefits of satellite transmission to all users. Id. See Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1395, 1401 (1982).

21

The FCC recognized that its decision to limit Comsat's role to that of a "carriers' carrier" would have certain anticompetitive effects. Specifically, the FCC acknowledged that its policy would neutralize intermodal competition between satellite and cable, and that absent such competition, the carriers would favor cable over satellite even though satellite offered a less expensive means of transmission.13 Accordingly, to assure that all users would enjoy the lower costs of satellite technology, the FCC established the "prescribed use" formula which required carriers to use satellite and cable circuits in approximately equal proportions, and the "composite rate" policy which required carriers to charge tariffs which took into account any cost savings due to the increased use of the less expensive satellite system.14

22

Initially, the FCC limited ownership of the first three earth stations to Comsat. Proposed Global Commercial Communication Satellite System, 38 FCC 1104 (1965). This policy was to be in effect for two years during which time the FCC would consider applications for earth station ownership filed by Comsat and other qualified carriers. However, at approximately the same time that the FCC established its Authorized User I policy, it revised its earth station ownership policy15 and required joint ownership of all earth stations by Comsat and authorized carriers; Comsat was permitted to own a 50 percent interest in each earth station while the other interested carriers divided the remaining 50 percent interest. Subsequently, the carriers and Comsat formed the Earth Station Ownership Committee (ESOC) to make policy and investment decisions.16 Comsat assumed the general managerial responsibilities of the ESOC. This joint ownership policy was to be in effect for only a few years. In 1969, the FCC issued a notice of inquiry to review its earth station ownership policy, Earth Station Ownership & Operation, 20 FCC 2d 735 (1969), but did not modify its policy; rather, it decided to maintain its joint ownership policy until further notice. This policy remains in effect today.

23

C. The SIN Decisions. In Communications Satellite Corp., 38 FCC 1298, 1304 (1965), the FCC established a temporary "carrier of the week" policy,17 which required customers who desired Intelsat television service to obtain this service from whichever carrier was designated as "carrier of the week." Thus, AT & T and the IRCs offered television transmission service on a rotating basis. The FCC, believing that its carrier of the week policy promoted quality service, continued the policy indefinitely. American Tel. & Tel. Co., 18 FCC 2d 402 (1969). In 1978, the Spanish International Network (SIN), a network which purchases Spanish television programming from foreign countries and sells it in the United States, petitioned the FCC for authorized user status. Spanish International Network, 68 FCC 2d 1260 (1978). SIN argued that television transmission was a "unique and exceptional" service and, thus, that it was entitled to authorized user status under the FCC's Authorized User I policy. Further, SIN believed that elimination of the carrier of the week policy would best serve the public interest.18

24

Although the FCC refused to characterize television transmission service as "unique and exceptional," it did initiate a proceeding to determine whether it should waive its Authorized User I policy and permit networks to obtain television transmission service directly from Comsat. After considering comments submitted by interested parties, the FCC waived its Authorized User I policy and allowed television networks to obtain television transmission service directly from Comsat. Spanish International Network, Inc., 70 FCC 2d 2127 (1978) (SIN I ). Pursuant to SIN I, the FCC permitted Comsat to provide television services directly to all authorized users at U.S. earth stations and to all international television carriers individually. Communications Satellite Corporation, 76 FCC 2d 5 (1980) (SIN II ). Additionally, Comsat was permitted to revise its tariff for this new service. Communications Satellite Corporation, 79 FCC 2d 562 (1980) (SIN III ).

25

D. Authorized User II. The FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to review its Authorized User I policy in Aeronautical Radio, Inc., 77 FCC 2d 535 (1980). In its notice, the FCC proposed to increase intermodal competition between cable and satellite systems by permitting Comsat to compete with the carriers at the retail level. Further, the FCC proposed to review its "prescribed use" and "composite rate" policies to determine whether these policies continued to serve the public interest. After considering the comments submitted by interested parties, the FCC abandoned its Authorized User I policy and established a new authorized user policy which permits non-carrier entities to obtain authorized user status and, thus, to purchase basic transmission services directly from Comsat. Moreover, the FCC permitted Comsat to establish a separate subsidiary to compete with the carriers in the end-to-end market upon the condition that Comsat treat all authorized users in a fair and consistent fashion. Finally, the FCC decided to make its composite rate policy discretionary for the IRCs and to limit its role in prescribing the use of cable and satellite facilities.

26

The FCC justified its decision in Authorized User II by enumerating changes in circumstance. The primary justification for initially restricting Comsat's entry into the retail markets, was that its entry would result in a substantial decrease in the IRCs' leased-channel revenues. Because leased-channel revenues appeared to be the fastest growing segment of the IRCs' business, and because leased-channel business was one of the IRCs' most profitable ventures, the FCC feared that a loss in leased-channel revenue would cause an increase in the IRCs' exchange service rates. Thus, the FCC concluded that the benefits of satellite technology would inure to the few leased-channel users at the expense of the many exchange service users and that such a result was incompatible with the Act's primary policy of extending the economies of satellite technology to all users.

27

A crucial assumption underlying the FCC's Authorized User I decision was that the cost of satellite circuits was substantially less expensive than cable circuits. In Authorized User II, the FCC concluded that the price difference was no longer substantial and that intermodal competition between cable and satellite was feasible. Consequently, the FCC no longer predicts a substantial revenue diversion due to losses from leased-channel revenue. Moreover, the FCC predicts that even if such a diversion does occur, the losses will not affect the IRCs' "overall profitability to such an extent as to impair their ability to provide service." Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1416 (1982). In short, the FCC found that protecting the carriers from competition with Comsat for leased-channel business was no longer in the public interest.

28

Petitioners warned the FCC that its Authorized User II policy would permit Comsat to use its "monopoly" position to engage in predatory pricing and to cross-subsidize its subsidiary. Further, petitioners urged the FCC to consider the merits of direct access and independent earth station ownership,19 two related issues, prior to permitting Comsat to enter the industry's retail markets. The FCC found that the petitioners' concerns regarding Comsat's potentially illegal activities were premature: the FCC believed that the regulatory tools at its disposal were sufficient to prevent Comsat from engaging in predatory pricing. Further, the FCC determined that its requirement that Comsat establish a separate subsidiary prior to entering the retail exchange service market would permit the FCC to monitor effectively Comsat's activities. Accordingly, if Comsat engaged in a practice of cross-subsidizing its subsidiary, then the FCC would take appropriate action. Finally, the FCC concluded that it could properly implement its change in authorized user policy prior to resolving the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues. In any event, the FCC indicated that it required more information before it could resolve these complex issues.20 In an effort to collect necessary information regarding these issues, the FCC issued two notices of inquiry.21

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

29

When reviewing a "notice-and-comment" rulemaking proceeding by the FCC, the reviewing court must determine whether the agency's decision is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law." 5 U.S.C. Sec. 706(2)(A). Petitioners challenge the FCC's Authorized User II decision on two grounds. First, petitioners contend that the FCC improperly concluded that the Satellite Act of 1962, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., grants the FCC broad discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users. Alternatively, petitioners argue that the FCC's decision was arbitrary and an abuse of discretion because the FCC failed to consider adequately a number of factors relevant to its decision in Authorized User II.

30

When an agency interprets a statute which it has been charged with administering, the agency's interpretation must be accepted, see, e.g., Ft. Pierce Utilities Authority of Ft. Pierce v. United States, 606 F.2d 986 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 842, 100 S.Ct. 83, 62 L.Ed.2d 54 (1976), unless its conclusion is inconsistent with obvious congressional intent. See, e.g., United States ex rel. Dancy v. Arnold, 572 F.2d 107 (3rd Cir.1978). When reviewing an agency's policy decision, however, we must determine whether its decision is arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion. In determining whether an agency's action is arbitrary or an abuse of discretion, a reviewing court must assume that the agency acted properly, e.g., Ethyl Corporation v. E.P.A., 541 F.2d 1 (D.C.Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 426 U.S. 941, 96 S.Ct. 2663, 49 L.Ed.2d 394 (1976), and it must refrain from substituting its judgment for that of the agency. E.g., Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 416, 91 S.Ct. 814, 824, 28 L.Ed.2d 136 (1971). A court's inquiry, however, is not limited to determining whether the agency's action has a rational basis, e.g., Texaco, Inc. v. F.E.A., 531 F.2d 1071 (TECA), cert. denied, 426 U.S. 941, 96 S.Ct. 2662, 49 L.Ed.2d 394 (1976); a reviewing court must also determine whether the agency's decision was based on a consideration of all relevant factors. E.g., Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n v. State Farm Mut., --- U.S. ---- (1983), 103 S.Ct. 2856, 2866-67, 77 L.Ed.2d 443 (1983); Bowman Transportation v. Arkansas--Best Freight System, Inc., 419 U.S. 281, 285, 95 S.Ct. 438, 441, 42 L.Ed.2d 447 (1974) ("A reviewing court 'must consider whether the decision was based on a consideration of relevant factors.' "), quoting Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402, 416, 91 S.Ct. 814, 823, 28 L.Ed.2d 136 (1971); Ethyl Corp. v. E.P.A., 541 F.2d 1, 36 (D.C.Cir.1976) (en banc) (Close scrutiny is necessary "to determine whether the agency decision was rational and based on consideration of relevant factors"); In re Dept. of Energy Stripper Well Exemption, 520 F.Supp. 1232, 1268 (D.Kan.1981) ("The relevant factors test simply requires that the court determine the underlying issues or factors the agency must consider in order to reach a rational result."). With these principles in mind, we turn to petitioners' arguments.

III. THRESHOLD QUESTION

31

The threshold question is whether the Satellite Act of 1962, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., permits the FCC to designate non-carriers as authorized users which are able to lease satellite channels directly from Comsat. The plain language of the Act indicates that the class of "authorized users" contains entities other than carriers. Moreover, the plain language, the legislative history, and the statutory scheme of the Act, convince us that Congress intended to give the FCC broad discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users and that the FCC is not required to maintain a two-tiered structure in the industry.22 Accordingly, we hold that the Act grants the FCC broad discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users.

32

Although the Satellite Act does not define the class of permissible authorized users, the parties agree that the FCC is the proper licensing agency in this instance, and that the FCC may, under some circumstances, designate non-carriers as authorized users; the question is which non-carriers are eligible for authorized user status. Petitioners argue that the only non-carrier entity entitled to authorized user status is the United States government.23 According to petitioners, such a limitation on the FCC's discretion is consistent with Congress' predictions that Comsat would serve the industry as primarily a "carriers' carrier."24 In response, the FCC asserts that it may designate non-carriers as authorized users whenever it finds that such a designation will serve the public interest. We believe that the FCC's statutory interpretation is correct.

33

The most basic rule of statutory construction requires that courts attribute to the words of a statute their plain meaning. See, e.g., Banks v. Chicago Grain Trimmers, 390 U.S. 459, 465, 88 S.Ct. 1140, 1144, 20 L.Ed.2d 30 (1968). The Act indicates that Comsat may lease satellite channels to "United States communications common carriers and to other authorized entities, foreign and domestic." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 735(a)(2) (emphasis added), and that Comsat may "contract with authorized users, including the United States Government, for the services of the communications satellite system." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 735(b)(4) (emphasis added). Congress has indicated that Comsat may deal directly with "carriers", a well-defined group, as well as with "other authorized entities," a group whose membership is unclear. Petitioners would define the members of the latter class as including only carriers and the United States government. Such an interpretation, however, is inconsistent with the plain meaning of the statute because it renders the statutory language "other authorized entities" a redundancy.25 If Congress intended to restrict the class of authorized users to authorized carriers and the United States government, it knew how to do so.26 Although the intended scope of the class of "authorized entities" is not defined expressly by the Act, the plain language indicates that the words "other authorized entities" mean non-carriers, including the United States government, who receive a license from the appropriate licensing agency. Thus, the plain language of the Act does not limit the FCC's discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users.

34

The legislative history indicates that Congress specifically considered language which would have limited Comsat's ability to offer retail services. Prior to the passage of the Act, the FCC objected strenuously to the proposed language "and to other authorized entities" because it believed that such language was broad enough to allow Comsat to compete with carriers on the retail level. In February of 1962, Newton Minow, Chairman of the FCC, urged the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, which was considering Senate Bill S. 2814,27 to delete "other authorized entities" and to restrict expressly Comsat's ability to enter the retail market. Chairman Minow offered the Senate Committee a proposed revision of S. 2814 which would have limited Comsat's ability to serve the general public.28 To assure that Congress was aware of the FCC's opposition to S. 2814, Chairman Minow also appeared before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce on March 14, 1962 and warned the Committee, which was considering the House version of S. 2814,29 that the proposed language "authorized entities" would permit Comsat to compete with the carriers at the retail level. Again, Chairman Minow expressed the FCC's desire that the language "authorized entities" be deleted and that Comsat's role in the industry be defined expressly "as a communications common carriers' carrier." Communications Satellites: Hearings on H.R. 10115 and 10138 before the House Comm. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 408, 416-17 (1962). On April 11, 1962, Chairman Minow testified before the Senate Commerce Committee reiterating the FCC's interpretation that the "authorized entities" language gave it unwanted discretion to permit Comsat to compete with the carriers at the retail level.30 Clearly, Congress was aware that the FCC, the agency charged with the responsibility of choosing which entities would be entitled to authorized user status, would not consider Congress' predictions concerning Comsat's role in the industry as a limitation on its discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users. Yet, in the bills' final version, Congress retained the "authorized entities" language. Congress' action in this regard is a strong indication that it did not intend to limit the FCC's discretion to designate authorized users and thus to allow Comsat to enter the retail market, by requiring the FCC to promote a two-tiered structure.

35

Finally, the legislative scheme of the Act also supports the conclusion that Congress' predictions concerning Comsat's role as a carriers' carrier were not intended as a limitation on the FCC's discretion in designating non-carriers as authorized users. The Act specifically permits the FCC to "grant appropriate authorizations for the construction and operation of each satellite terminal station (earth station), either to the corporation (Comsat) or to one or more authorized carriers or to the corporation and to one or more such carriers, jointly, as will best serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 721(c)(7). The provision permits both Comsat and the IRCs to own earth stations and, thus, to provide independently earth station service. Entities that are permitted to independently own and operate earth stations can provide retail services;31 thus, the Act grants both Comsat and the IRCs the ability to offer retail services. Also, the Act encourages the FCC to maximize competition "in the provision of equipment and services utilized by the system" and to assure that Comsat is operated in such a fashion as to "maintain and strengthen competition in the provision of communications services to the public." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701(c). Clearly, if Congress intended to foreclose competition between Comsat and the IRCs at the retail level, it would not have permitted the FCC to allow both Comsat and the IRCs to provide retail services and encouraged the FCC to promote maximum competition in the provision of satellite services. Thus, the scheme of the Act is further evidence that Congress did not intend to foreclose retail competition between Comsat and the IRCs.

36

We find that the plain language, the legislative history and the scheme of the Act indicate clearly that the FCC may designate non-carriers as authorized users, and that the FCC is not required to maintain a two-tiered structure in the industry. Congress' predictions concerning Comsat's role in the industry are insufficient to support petitioners' inference that Congress intended to limit the FCC's discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users. In light of the FCC's repeated requests that Congress adopt language limiting expressly Comsat's ability to compete with the carriers at the retail level and Congress' refusal to adopt such language, we believe the more reasonable inference is that Congress' predictions were not intended as limitations on the FCC's discretion. Moreover, a review of the Act reveals that both Comsat and the common carriers may offer a retail service and that one of the policies of the Act is to promote maximum competition in the industry when such competition furthers the public interest. We believe that the scheme of the Act indicates that Congress did not intend to restrict the FCC's ability to promote retail competition between Comsat and the common carriers. Accordingly, we hold that the Satellite Act permits the FCC to designate non-carriers as authorized users so long as such status furthers the public interest, and therefore, that the Act affords the FCC the discretion to allow Comsat to compete at the retail level.

IV. RELEVANT FACTORS

37

Petitioners argue that the FCC's decision in Authorized User II is arbitrary because the FCC permits Comsat to enter the retail markets without considering adequately a number of relevant factors.32 First, petitioners claim that the FCC has failed to consider adequately a number of anticompetitive effects which will result from Comsat's entrance into the retail markets.33 In response, the FCC asserts that it has considered fully the potential anticompetitive effects that might result from its change in policy.

38

Petitioners' second argument concerns two issues which the FCC has deferred: direct access and independent earth station ownership.34 Because resolution of these issues may exacerbate or minimize the predicted anticompetitive effects, petitioners believe that these issues are germane to the FCC's Authorized User II policy. Consequently, the petitioners conclude that the FCC acted arbitrarily by failing to consider the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues prior to issuing its decision. The FCC, however, believes that while the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues may have merit, these issues are not "inextricably tied" to its Authorized User II policy. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1433-34 (1982). According to the FCC, the complexity of the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues and the lack of adequate information justifies its decision to defer these issues.

39

A. Anticompetitive effects. Petitioners claim that the FCC failed to analyze fully the anticompetitive effects of the FCC's change in authorized user policy. Specifically, they argue that the FCC's new policy will result in a substantial diversion of leased-channel business from the IRCs to Comsat;35 the diversion of revenues will result from the IRCs' inability to compete with Comsat for leased-channel business. The IRCs assert that the leased-channel and exchange service markets are interrelated, and that a substantial loss in leased-channel business will affect adversely exchange service prices and, thus, the public interest. The FCC does not contest the IRCs' reasoning that a substantial diversion of leased-channel business will affect adversely the public interest; rather, it challenges the IRCs' premise that a substantial diversion of leased-channel business is likely to result from its change in policy. Thus, the preliminary dispute is whether the FCC's Authorized User II policy will result in a substantial diversion of leased-channel business from the IRCs to Comsat because of the IRCs' inability to compete effectively on the basis of price.

40

Under the FCC's Authorized User II policy, competitors for leased-channel business will compete primarily on the basis of price. Leased-channel customers are sophisticated and able to arrange for their own link-up facilities.36 Leased-channel consumers do not depend on the IRCs for link-up service. We believe that the IRCs' ability to provide link-up service efficiently will not affect substantially the IRCs' competitive position in the leased-channel market. Moreover, leased-channel customers generally do not perceive any real distinction between cable and satellite service. Indeed, the FCC's use of prescribed use formulas presumes that satellite and cable circuits are, for the most part, interchangeable.37 Moreover, Comsat's basic transmission service and the satellite leased-channel service offered by the IRCs are virtually identical.38 In general, competition for leased-channel business does not depend upon a competitor's ability to provide link-up service, upon a competitor's ability to provide different services, or upon a competitor's ability to operate earth stations efficiently. We believe that the leased-channel customers are likely to distinguish between leased-channel competitors based on the competitor's price per circuit. Consequently, even small variations in price between competitors' satellite circuits or between competitors' cable and satellite circuits are likely to result in a diversion of leased-channel business.

41

In light of the leased-channel market's high sensitivity to price, intramodal competition for leased-channel business does not appear to be feasible under the FCC's Authorized User II policy. The FCC's Authorized User II policy would permit non-carriers to deal directly with Comsat for basic transmission service and would require Comsat to charge both carriers and non-carriers the same bundled rate for basic transmission service; thus, non-carriers and carriers can purchase satellite service at the same price.39 Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1429 (1982). Non-carriers are unlikely to lease basic transmission from the IRCs if basic transmission service is available directly from Comsat at the same rate. Unless the IRCs are willing to offer basic transmission service to non-carriers at a rate less than cost, leased-channel customers will be encouraged to bypass the IRCs and lease basic transmission service directly from Comsat.40 In short, we find that the FCC's Authorized User II policy is likely to frustrate meaningful intramodal competition for leased-channel business between Comsat and the IRCs.

42

Because intramodal competition is unlikely, vigorous competition between the IRCs and Comsat for leased-channel business depends upon the feasibility of intermodal competition. In 1966, intermodal competition was not feasible because satellite circuits were substantially less expensive than cable circuits. In its Authorized User II decision, the FCC found that "technological advances" have made cable "much more cost competitive than it believed possible." Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1414 (1982). To support this proposition, the FCC cites one example which indicates that the per circuit cost of cable voice-grade circuits is approximately $46,00041 and notes that initial fiber optics42 projections indicate that the future cost for cable will be approximately $15,000 to $19,000 per circuit. The present cost of a satellite voice-grade circuit is $13,500. Based on this information, the FCC found that cable leased-channel will be competitive with satellite leased-channel at some time in the future. Id. at 1414 n. 21. Whether intermodal competition is presently feasible, however, is a separate question.

43

Although cable is more competitive than it was in 1966, the FCC implicitly recognizes that cable remains a more expensive means of transmitting telecommunications messages. In its Authorized User II decision, the FCC states that "the rapidly diminishing gap between cable and satellite facilities cost should significantly aid the IRCs in pricing their leased-channel services competitively", id. at 1416, and that "cable should be competitive" when fiber optics is implemented by the carriers. Id. at 1414 n. 21 (emphasis added). These statements indicate that a gap between cable and satellite costs still exists, and that cable is not yet competitive with satellite. In light of the leased-channel market's high sensitivity to price, we believe that the IRCs' prediction that a substantial diversion of leased-channel business to Comsat will result from Comsat's entrance into the retail leased-channel market is based on more than speculation.43 Because we believe that a risk exists that Comsat's entrance into the retail leased-channel market will result in a substantial diversion of leased-channel business from the IRCs to Comsat, the critical question is what effect such a diversion will have on the public interest.

44

In Authorized User I, 4 FCC 2d 421, 432 (1966), the FCC's primary concern was that a substantial loss of leased-channel business by the IRCs would result in an increase in the IRCs' rates for exchange services. The FCC reasoned that a substantial loss of leased-channel revenues would substantially decrease the IRCs' operating revenues and, thus, force the IRCs to increase their exchange service rates. Id. Because an increase in exchange service rates would affect adversely many exchange service customers, the FCC concluded that permitting Comsat to compete with the IRCs at the retail level would be inconsistent with the Satellite Act's primary policy of extending the economies of satellite technology to all users and, thus, assumed that an increase in exchange service rates was not in the public interest. In Authorized User II, the FCC did not abandon its assumption; instead, it based its change in policy on a number of changed circumstances. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1415 (1982). First, the FCC explained that "the IRC's operations are, at least for the most part, profitable and that the IRCs are experiencing rapid growth." Id. Second, the FCC indicated that the IRCs' rates of return in 1976 for leased-channel business ranged from between -3.3 percent to 5.6 percent. In contrast, the IRCs' rate of return in 1976 for telex, which accounted for 62 percent of the IRCs' total revenues, ranged from between 31.7 percent to 58.3 percent. Id. at 1413. Based on the IRCs' overall profitability and the relative unimportance of leased-channel business to the IRCs' overall revenues, the FCC found that any diversion of leased-channel revenue from the IRCs to Comsat would not "lessen the IRCs' ability to provide service to the public or ... otherwise impair the quality or availability of public service." Id. at 1419 (emphasis added). Although we accept the FCC's conclusion that a loss of leased-channel revenues by the IRCs will not threaten the IRCs' continued existence or impair their ability to provide quality exchange services, the question remains whether the FCC's Authorized User II policy will result in an increase in exchange service rates to the detriment of the many exchange service customers.

45

The FCC's Authorized User II policy could affect adversely exchange service rates and, thus, the public interest in a number of ways. For example, to the extent that a loss of leased-channel business lessens the volume of messages sent by cable, the marginal cost for all cable services will increase.44 Moreover, if leased-channel business is lost, the IRCs' exchange customers must pay a relatively higher proportion of the IRCs' administrative overhead. Further, the FCC's decision to eliminate composite rate formulas and, at least in part, prescribed use formulas, might also affect adversely the IRCs' exchange service prices. Presumably, the FCC's composite rate and prescribed use requirements have kept exchange service prices artificially low; in effect, cable customers have been subsidized by satellite customers. The elimination of composite rate formulas will reflect the true costs of satellite and cable. Cable remains a more expensive medium than satellite; accordingly, the elimination of composite rate formulas will reflect the generally higher cost of cable. In summary, we believe that the cost of cable exchange services in the short term is likely to increase as a result of the FCC's Authorized User II policy.

46

An increase in the IRCs' cable exchange service rates is unimportant unless the increase affects adversely the public interest. See Hawaiian Tel. Co. v. FCC, 498 F.2d 771 (D.C.Cir.1974). In Authorized User I, 4 FCC 2d 421, 432-33 (1966), the FCC concluded that an increase in the IRCs' cable exchange service rates would affect adversely the public interest. In 1966, however, the common carriers were the only entities permitted to offer retail exchange services. Further, the carriers had a clear incentive to prefer cable over satellite transmission. Accordingly, any increase in the carriers' cable exchange service prices necessarily would have been borne by the exchange service customers. In Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1435 (1982), the FCC authorized Comsat to provide retail satellite exchange service through a separate subsidiary. Clearly, the availability of retail satellite exchange service could minimize any adverse effects which may result from an increase in the IRCs' cable exchange service rates. Therefore, the question whether exchange service customers will be forced to pay higher exchange service prices as a consequence of the FCC's Authorized User II policy, depends upon the IRCs' willingness to offer satellite exchange services or upon Comsat's successful entrance into the retail exchange service market.

47

If the FCC's Authorized User II policy results in an increase in cable exchange service rates, the IRCs will have no incentive to offer satellite exchange services. Carriers are only entitled to earn a rate of return on capital invested reasonably.45 The cable network represents the IRCs' primary capital investment; thus, the IRCs have a clear incentive to prefer cable over satellite transmission. Absent FCC intervention, we doubt that the IRCs would sacrifice profits by offering satellite exchange services as an alternative to their higher cable exchange service rates. Thus, the availability of retail satellite exchange service under the FCC's Authorized User II policy depends primarily on Comsat's successful entrance into the retail exchange service market.

48

Throughout these proceedings, Comsat has maintained steadfastly that it has no intention of establishing a subsidiary to compete for exchange service business.46 If Comsat does not enter the retail exchange service market, exchange service customers must depend necessarily on the IRCs for exchange service. Further, even if Comsat does enter the exchange service market, there are no guarantees that it will be able to compete effectively with the carriers for exchange service business. Unlike the leased-channel market, competitors in the exchange service market must be efficient in arranging foreign communication links; thus, competition is based on service as well as price. Over the years, the IRCs have established working relationships with a number of foreign communications companies. These relationships give the IRCs a distinct advantage over new entrants in the market. See ITT World Communications, Inc. v. FCC, 595 F.2d 897 (2d Cir.1979). Although we do not question Comsat's ability, the end-to-end market presents more obstacles to new entrants than the leased-channel market. In summary, Comsat has indicated its clear intent not to enter the retail exchange service market. Moreover, the retail exchange service market is more difficult to enter than the leased-channel market. In light of these factors, the prospect of Comsat successfully entering the retail exchange service market in the near future is highly unlikely.

49

In conclusion, we believe that the FCC's Authorized User II policy is likely to result in an increase in cable exchange service rates. Whether the increase in cable exchange service rates will affect adversely the public interest depends upon either the IRCs' willingness to offer satellite exchange services or upon Comsat's successful entrance in the exchange service market. The IRCs have a monetary incentive to prefer cable over satellite and Comsat has maintained steadfastly that it has no intention of entering the exchange service market. Accordingly, we believe that any increase in cable exchange service rates will be borne by the many exchange service customers and, thus, that the FCC's Authorized User II policy will have some adverse effects on the public interest.

50

The fact that the FCC's Authorized User II policy may have some adverse effects on the public interest does not mean that the FCC's new policy of heightening intermodal competition by deregulating the industry is necessarily inconsistent with the overall public interest. In making public interest determinations which will affect an entire industry, the FCC is responsible for weighing the potential benefits against the detriments of a proposed policy. In this instance, the FCC has enumerated a number of potential benefits which may result from its change in policy. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1419-1422 (1982). Further, the FCC has considered the likelihood that its new policy will have some adverse effects on the public interest. Although we disagree with the FCC's assessment of the potential detrimental effects which may result as a consequence of the FCC's Authorized User II policy, we do not believe that the FCC's failure to afford sufficient weight to the likely detrimental effects of its new policy is, in itself, a sufficient basis from which this Court can conclude the FCC's Authorized User II policy is necessarily inconsistent with the public interest. In this case, however, the petitioners not only claim that the FCC failed to consider adequately the detrimental effects of its change in policy, but also, that the FCC failed to consider issues which may exacerbate or minimize these expected adverse effects. Specifically, petitioners argue that the FCC has abused its discretion by failing to consider the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues prior to issuing its Authorized User II decision.

51

B. Direct Access and Independent Earth Station Ownership. The FCC has determined that no direct connection exists between its policy decision to foster intermodal competition in the leased-channel and exchange markets and the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues. Consequently, the FCC announced its change in authorized user policy and initiated separate proceedings to consider the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues.47 The petitioners argue, however, that the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues are germane to the FCC's Authorized User II policy and, thus, that the FCC abused its discretion by failing to consider these relevant factors. In our view, direct access and independent earth station ownership by the IRCs would affect directly the FCC's policy of promoting intermodal competition. Because of the potential impact that these issues could have on the FCC's policy of promoting intermodal competition, we believe the FCC abused its discretion by restructuring the entire telecommunications industry prior to considering the merits of direct access and independent earth station ownership.48

52

All of the parties agree that direct access and independent earth station ownership by the IRCs will increase the likelihood of intramodal competition for leased-channel business. Presumably, if the IRCs are permitted direct access, they will be able to lease space segment capacity from Intelsat at a rate less than Comsat's present tariff. Clearly, a decrease in the IRCs' cost for the space segment would enhance the IRCs' leased-channel market position and, thus, would increase the potential for intramodal competition for leased-channel business between Comsat and the IRCs. Further, if the IRCs are permitted to independently own and operate earth stations, a new basis for competition will exist: Comsat and the IRCs would compete on their respective abilities to provide efficient earth station service. Thus, the expected consequence of permitting the IRCs direct access and independent ownership and operation of earth stations is an increase in intramodal competition between Comsat and the IRCs for leased-channel business.

53

An increase in intramodal competition in the leased-channel market may be consistent in some respects, and inconsistent in other respects, with the FCC's primary policy of encouraging intermodal competition in both markets. Theoretically, maximum intermodal competition in both the exchange service and the leased-channel markets could be furthered by restricting the IRCs' future capital investments to cable and the development of fiber optics. A decision to deny the IRCs direct access and independent earth station ownership would have such an effect: more of the IRCs' investment capital would be available to promote the cable medium if the IRCs were foreclosed from investing in satellites. In contrast, if the FCC decides to permit the IRCs to invest in the satellite system either by allowing them direct access or independent earth station ownership, the IRCs would have an incentive to earn a rate of return on their investments by channeling some of their business via satellite; the IRCs willingness to offer satellite exchange services may minimize the adverse consequences of an increase in cable exchange service rates. Clearly, the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues affect directly the IRCs' investment decisions and, thus, their ability to promote either cable or both cable and satellite.

54

The FCC's decision concerning direct access and independent earth station ownership is also likely to affect Comsat's decision whether to enter the retail exchange service market. The FCC has promised that it will continue to monitor traffic to assure that both the satellite and cable systems are used reasonably. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1426 (1982). Presumably, the FCC plans to limit any substantial diversions from one mode to another by using its prescribed use formula. Such an assurance is inconsistent with the FCC's policy of encouraging intermodal competition because it discourages Comsat from entering the retail exchange service market49 and because it forces the IRCs to buy from their proposed competitor. If the IRCs, however, are permitted direct access and independent earth station ownership, the IRCs would not be forced to buy from their competitor and Comsat may find it necessary to enter the exchange service market if it hopes to get any exchange service business.

55

Finally, independent earth station ownership may also affect the cost of satellite services. If the IRCs are permitted independent earth station ownership and operation and if competition results in the more efficient operation of earth stations, presumably the price for earth station access will decrease. The FCC has identified the potential decrease in consumer cost that may result from an increase in competition for the provision of earth station service as a justification for reviewing its present joint ownership policy. Notice of Inquiry, Modification of Policy on Ownership and Operation of U.S. Earth Stations that Operate with the Intelsat Global Communications Satellite System, 90 FCC 2d 1452 (1982). A dramatic decrease in price would certainly affect the feasibility of intermodal competition for leased-channel business and, to a lesser extent, exchange service business. Conversely, if increased competition leads to a short term increase in the cost of earth station operations and, thus, an increase in the price of satellite services, intermodal competition may be more feasible.50 0] In any event, independent earth station ownership may affect indirectly the likelihood of intermodal competition in both markets.

56

We have enumerated a few of the potential effects that direct access and independent earth station ownership may have on the FCC's policy decision to promote intermodal competition in both markets. The FCC itself has recognized that the resolution of these issues will have a widespread effect on the structure of the industry.51 In the past, we have permitted the FCC to resolve some issues and to defer the resolution of other issues when the issues decided were not inextricably related to the issues deferred. See Western Union Int., Inc. v. FCC, 673 F.2d 539, 543-44 (D.C.Cir.1982). In this case, however, the FCC has attempted to restructure the entire industry on a piecemeal basis. It has firmly established a policy of promoting intermodal competition without considering issues which concern directly the likelihood of intermodal competition. Moreover, the FCC has chosen to promote intermodal competition without considering whether intramodal competition is consistent with its new policy.

57

In our view, an agency does not act rationally when it chooses and implements one policy and decides to consider the merits of a potentially inconsistent policy in the very near future. Of course, the FCC is the agency with the necessary expertise to analyze fully and determine the extent to which direct access and independent earth station ownership will affect intermodal competition in both markets. Perhaps intermodal competition in both markets is consistent with direct access and independent earth station ownership. Perhaps Comsat will change its mind and enter the retail exchange service market without further incentive. On the other hand, intermodal competition may be frustrated if the IRCs are permitted to invest a substantial amount of capital in direct access from Intelsat or in the construction and operation of earth stations. Clearly, the FCC is in a better position than this Court to resolve these important questions. See, e.g., Springfield Television of Utah, Inc. v. FCC, 710 F.2d 620, 626 (10th Cir.1983); Stone v. FCC, 466 F.2d 316, 322 (D.C.Cir.1972). Until the FCC has considered and determined the widespread effects that the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues will have on the industry structure, however, neither the FCC nor this court can determine rationally which policy will best serve the public interest.52 Consequently, we hold that the FCC has abused its discretion by implementing its Authorized User II policy prior to considering the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues.

V. REMEDY

58

Petitioners contend that the FCC has violated its duty to decide issues presented within a reasonable time, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 555(B) (1970), by unduly delaying the resolution of the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues.53 Consequently, petitioners have requested this court to compel the FCC to initiate rulemaking proceedings for the purpose of resolving these issues. The FCC argues that the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues are serious and complicated and that it has only recently collected information necessary to resolve these issues. In light of the FCC's broad discretion to manage its docket and, thus, establish its priorities, see, e.g., Nader v. FCC, 520 F.2d 182, 195-97 (D.C.Cir.1975), it urges this court to decline petitioners' invitation to interfere with the FCC's docket.

59

Although this court has indicated "that nine years should be enough time for an agency to decide almost any issue," id. at 206, we believe that we may not properly establish and enforce a strict timetable for the FCC in this instance. Because of the extremely complicated nature of the direct access and earth station ownership issues, we believe that any prediction concerning the length of time necessary to resolve these issues would be speculative. Moreover, the FCC has indicated that it requires further information from petitioners and others before it can decide the merits of these issues. Thus, the FCC's ability to resolve these issues depends, in part, on the petitioners' prompt action. Finally, we have every reason to believe that the FCC will not unduly delay its decisions. Indeed, the FCC's change in policy manifests its desire to promote the public interest by deregulating the international telecommunications industry. We believe that our decision requiring the FCC to address the direct access and earth station ownership issues prior to implementing a change in its Authorized User I policy is sufficient to insure that the FCC will act expeditiously.

60

We have considered all of the arguments presented by the various parties.54 We hold that the Satellite Act of 1962, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., gives the FCC broad discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users. In this instance, however, the FCC has abused its discretion by failing to consider adequately a number of relevant factors prior to implementing its Authorized User II policy. Accordingly, the FCC's Authorized User II decision is vacated and remanded to the FCC for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

*

The Honorable Anthony J. Celebrezze, Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation

1

The petitioners are ITT World Communications, Inc. (ITT), RCA Global Communications, Inc. (RCA), Western Union International, Inc. (WUI) and TRT Telecommunications Corporation (TRT). A number of parties have intervened in this case including: Aeronautical Radio, Inc.; Air Transport Association; American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.; American Telephone and Telegraph Company; CBS, Inc.; Communications Satellite Corporation; European Broadcasting Union; Hawaiian Telephone Company; National Broadcasting Company, Inc.; Public Broadcasting Service; Southern Pacific Communications Corporation; and Spanish International Network, Inc

2

Each of these decisions concerns the question whether the Satellite Act of 1962, 47 U.S.C. 701 et seq., allows the FCC to designate non-carriers as "authorized users". This question was first addressed by the FCC in Authorized Entities and Users, 4 FCC 2d 421 (1966) (Authorized User I ). In Authorized User I the FCC interpreted the Act as conferring upon it the power to designate non-carriers as authorized users, but established a policy of limiting the class of authorized users to carriers absent "unique and exceptional circumstances." Id. at 431. In 1978, Spanish International Network (SIN) petitioned the FCC for authorized user status. Spanish International Network, 68 FCC 1260 (1978). The FCC waived its Authorized User I policy and designated SIN and other television networks as authorized users. Spanish International Network, 70 FCC 2d 2127 (1978) (SIN I ). Pursuant to its decision in SIN I, the FCC granted Comsat's request to provide service at U.S. earth stations directly to the networks and to international television carriers, Communications Satellite Corporation, 76 FCC 2d 5 (1980) (SIN II ), and allowed Comsat to revise its tariff for this new service. Communications Satellite Corporation, 79 FCC 2d 562 (1980) (SIN III ). Petitioners ITT and WUI seek review of the three SIN decisions. The fourth decision before this court is Modification of Authorized User Policy, 90 FCC 2d 1394 (1982) (Authorized User II ). In Authorized User II, the FCC abandoned its Authorized User I policy of permitting only carriers to obtain authorized user status and, thus, permitted Comsat to enter the international telecommunications retail leased-channel market. The FCC also ruled that Comsat could establish a separate subsidiary which would compete with other carriers in the end-to-end retail market. All petitioners request this court to review the FCC's decision in Authorized User II

3

In this opinion, "common carriers" or "carriers" refers to AT & T and a group of entities commonly referred to as international record carriers (IRCs). AT & T and the IRCs provide international message services

4

Comsat, a private corporation, was created by the Satellite Act of 1962, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 731, for the express purpose of planning and constructing the communications satellite system. Although Congress gave Comsat the initial responsibility of establishing the system, it intended that a number of nations would operate the system on a cooperative basis once the system was established. On August 20, 1964, an Executive Agreement was signed by the United States and ten other nations. Agreement Establishing Interim Arrangements for a Global Communications Satellite System, 15 U.S.T. 1705, T.I.A.S. No. 5646, 544 U.N.T. 26, effective August 20, 1964; it established the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelsat) which assumed the ownership of the system from Comsat. Comsat became the U.S. representative to Intelsat and the manager of the system

5

Intelsat provides access to its satellite by leasing circuit "units of utilization." Comsat Study, 77 FCC 2d 564, 590, 789, 793-94 (1980). Comsat is presently the only entity permitted to rent these units from Intelsat; common carriers must lease space segment capacity from Comsat

6

In 1966, Petitioners ITT, RCA, and WUI accounted for 96 percent of the record service industry's total revenues. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1397 (1982)

7

Telegraph is a method of transmitting a one-way message from point to point. The use of the telegraph has declined markedly because of innovations such as telex, TWX, and other new exchange services. See W.U. Tel. Co. v. FCC, 665 F.2d 1126, 1132 (D.C.Cir.1981)

8

Telex, also referred to as teletype-exchange service, is a two-way form of communication between teletypewriters. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1397 n. 4 (1982). TWX is a special type of telex message also characterized by its two-way capabilities

9

In 1966, the United States government accounted for approximately 70 percent of the IRC's total leased-channel revenues. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1413-14 (1982). Although the government only accounted for approximately 33 percent of the IRC's leased-channel revenues in 1978, id., the petitioners have established that the vast majority of leased-channel revenue is still generated by a few large users. For example, WUI has indicated that five customers account for 43 percent of its total leased-channel revenues and that twenty-nine customers account for 67 percent of its total leased-channel revenues

10

"A half circuit is a two-way communications link between an earth station and an Intelsat satellite. To obtain a full circuit, one combines a half circuit from one earth station with a half circuit from any other earth station operating with the same satellite." Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1402 n. 9 (1982)

11

Prior to the FCC's decision in International Record Carriers' Scope of Operations in the Continental United States, 76 FCC 1115 (1980) (Gateways ), aff'd sub nom. W.U. Tel. Co. v. FCC, 665 F.2d 1126 (D.C.Cir.1981), international record carriers operated only in designated "gateway" cities. "Gateway" refers to cities from which messages are sent directly to foreign points. A customer in the hinterland who desired to send an international record message had two choices: either contact an IRC in a gateway city directly or use Western Union Telegraph Company (WUTC) as an intermediary. In Gateways, the FCC authorized the IRCs to pick-up and deliver international messages in twenty-one additional "domestic points of operation", but did not designate these new points of operation as "gateway" cities. Id. at 146-48. Consequently, the IRCs' operations are no longer confined to gateway cities

12

Upon reconsideration of its Authorized User I policy, the FCC indicated that the United States is entitled to deal directly with Comsat "whenever such direct service is in the national interest." Authorized User Reconsideration, 6 FCC 2d 593, 594-95 (1967). None of the parties seriously contest the special status given by the FCC to the United States in matters concerning the national interest

13

Pursuant to traditional ratemaking policy, a carrier is only entitled to earn a rate of return on capital reasonably invested; carriers are not entitled to earn a rate of return on expenses. See, e.g., Communications Satellite Corp. v. FCC, 611 F.2d 883, 897 (D.C.Cir.1977). The common carriers' primary investments are in the cable system. In contrast, the carriers have been precluded from investing in direct access from Intelsat and they have been limited in their ability to invest in earth stations. Consequently, if given the option of sending messages by cable or satellite, the IRCs generally prefer to use the cable system

14

The FCC's initial order required the carriers to review all of their tariffs to reflect any cost savings which would result from the use of the satellite system. Authorized User I, 4 FCC 421, 434 (1966). Apparently, the carriers interpreted the FCC's decision as requiring them to average the cost of cable and satellite circuits for each route; thus, the carriers offered "composite rates". In ITT World Communications, Inc., 6 FCC 2d 514 (1967), the FCC adopted "composite rate" formulas as an appropriate means of assuring that many users could enjoy the cost benefits of satellite technology

15

The FCC's primary purpose for revising its earth station ownership policy was to afford carriers an opportunity to gain experience in satellite communications and to promote contributions by the carriers in the development of satellite communications. Ownership and Operation of Earth Stations, 5 FCC 812 (1966)

16

Pursuant to ESOC procedures, the vast majority of proposals require at least a majority for passage. U.S. Earth Stations, 90 FCC 2d 1458, 1463-64 n. 10 (1982). On the Committee, voting strength is weighted in accordance with earth station ownership interest. Comsat owns fifty percent of each U.S. earth station; consequently, it has the ability to veto any of the carriers' proposals

17

Pursuant to the "carrier of the week" policy, television transmission service was offered under a joint tariff by all participating carriers. The carriers have never competed for television service customers

18

SIN has asserted that the carriers add nothing to the television transmission service offered by Comsat. The FCC, however, has indicated that the carriers have provided television service to SIN on an end-to-end basis. Consequently, the television service offered by the carriers is more than Comsat's basic transmission service

19

The direct access issue concerns which entities are entitled to lease space segment capacity directly from Intelsat. Presently, Comsat is the only entity permitted "direct access". Although the FCC has indicated that the Act prohibits the carriers from purchasing the satellite system, it believes that the Act permits the carriers to invest capital "in the nature of indefeasible right of user." SIN I, 70 F.C.C.2d 2127, 2146 (1978). Presumably, if the FCC would permit the carriers to invest in direct access, the carriers would be entitled to earn a rate of return on their investment. See note 13, supra

The independent earth station ownership issue concerns which entities should, as a matter of policy, be permitted to independently own and operate earth stations. The Act clearly permits the carriers and Comsat to independently own and operate earth stations. 47 U.S.C. Sec. 721(c)(7). The FCC's present policy requires joint ownership between Comsat and the carriers of all earth stations. Petitioners have asked the FCC to change its present joint ownership policy; petitioners desire the ability to independently own and operate earth stations.

20

See text accompanying note 53, supra

21

Notice of Inquiry, Regulatory Policies Concerning Direct Access to Intelsat Space Segment for the U.S. International Service Carriers, 90 FCC 2d 1446 (1982); Notice of Inquiry, Modification of Policy on Ownership and Operation of U.S. Earth Stations that Operate with the Intelsat Global Communications Satellite System, 90 FCC 2d 1452 (1982)

22

If we were to limit the permissible class of authorized entities to carriers and the U.S. government we would, in effect, require the FCC to promote a two-tiered structure in the industry: Comsat would function primarily as a wholesaler of satellite services and the common carriers would act primarily as retailers of satellite services

23

The petitioners also argue that the phrase "other authorized entities, foreign and domestic" was intended to mean "carrier-like" entities including: foreign communications entities doing business abroad, foreign communications entities doing business in the United States and domestic communications entities doing business abroad. Neither the Act nor its legislative history support petitioners' very narrow definition

24

The legislative history of the Act reveals several predictions concerning Comsat's role in the industry as "primarily a carriers' carrier". For example, Senator John O. Pastore, the floor manager of the bill and a chairman of one of the subcommittees stated:

The satellite corporation and the carriers will not be competing in the same market .... The market to be served by the corporation consists of the carriers who will use its facilities. The market to be served by the carriers will be the senders and recipients of communications traffic.

108

Cong.Rec., Sec. 16920 (daily ed. August 17, 1962) (statement of Sen. Pastore)

Senator McGee, a member of the House Commerce Committee, characterized Comsat's role in the industry as follows:

We say sometimes, he is a coach's coach, or a football player's football player; this is a carrier's carrier.

108

Cong.Rec. H.7704 (daily ed. May 3, 1962) (statement of Sen. McGee). Petitioners rely on these statements as evidence that Congress intended to restrict forever Comsat from competing for retail business. Although legislative history often clarifies Congressional intent, we do not believe that the predictions concerning Comsat's role in the industry support petitioners' assertion that Congress intended to restrict forever Comsat from serving the general public. During the many debates which preceded the Satellite Act, many legislators expressed a concern that competition between Comsat and the carriers, especially during the developmental years of the satellite system, would not facilitate the Act's primary purpose: "to establish ... as expeditiously as practicable a commercial communications satellite system." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701(a) (emphasis added). In our view, the predictions concerning the unlikelihood that such competition would occur during the developmental years were intended simply to convince legislators that the carriers would not interfere with the swift development of the new satellite system

25

By defining the class of authorized users as including "common carriers" and "other authorized entities", Congress must have intended "other authorized entities" to mean something other than common carriers. E.g., Reiter v. Sonotone Corp., 442 U.S. 330, 339, 99 S.Ct. 2326, 2331, 60 L.Ed.2d 931 (1979) ("In construing a statute courts are obliged to give effect, if possible, to every word Congress used."). Moreover, Congress must have intended the class of "other authorized entities" to include at least one entity other than the United States government

26

Congress' ability to limit expressly the class of authorized users is apparent. In 47 U.S.C. Sec. 734(b)(1), Congress restricted expressly the class of common carriers able to purchase and own voting stock in Comsat; only common carriers specifically authorized by the FCC to own shares of voting stock are considered "authorized carriers" for the purposes of Sec. 734(b)(2). Congress recognized the need to limit specifically the language "authorized carriers" for the purposes of this section of the Act. Absent such a limitation, any carrier authorized by the FCC to provide services by means of communication satellites would have been able to purchase voting stock in Comsat. See 47 U.S.C. Sec. 702(7). Clearly, Congress did not perceive a similar need to limit the class of authorized users to "authorized carriers" and the United States government in the very next section of the Act. 47 U.S.C. Sec. 735(a)(2). Instead, Congress described the class of authorized users as including both "carriers" and "other authorized entities."

27

Two alternative bills preceded the enactment of the Satellite Act of 1962: S.2814 and S.2650. See Proposed Communications Satellite Legislation: Hearings on S.2650 and S.2814 Before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 2-10 (1962). S.2814 provided for joint ownership of Comsat by the carriers and the general public. The proponents of S.2814 believed that joint ownership of Comsat was necessary to assure that the carriers would not purposely stifle the development of the satellite communications system to protect the carriers' investment in the cable system. Consequently, S.2814 required Comsat to issue two classes of stock: voting and nonvoting. Although the carriers were the only entities permitted to invest in nonvoting stock, both the carriers and the general public were permitted to invest in voting stock. An entities' investment in voting stock, however, could not exceed fifteen percent of the authorized amount of voting stock or twenty-five percent of the outstanding shares of voting stock. Id. at 8-9. In contrast, S.2650, the alternative bill sponsored by Senator Kerr, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, would have restricted the class of investors in Comsat to the carriers. Id. at 3. The primary reason for limiting the class of permissible investors in Comsat to carriers was to encourage the carriers to promote the development of the satellite communications system

The legislature decided to adopt S.2814 with some revisions. Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. Sec. 734(a), (c), Comsat is authorized to issue two classes of stock: voting and nonvoting. Both authorized carriers and the general public are entitled to purchase either voting or nonvoting stock. Both authorized carriers and other investors, however, are limited in the amount of voting stock they can obtain lawfully. 47 U.S.C. Sec. 734(b)(2), (3). Further, the Act precludes authorized carriers from earning a rate of return on capital invested in voting stock; authorized carriers are permitted to earn a rate of return on the purchase of "nonvoting securities, bonds, debentures, or other certificates ... to the extent allowed by the FCC". 47 U.S.C. Sec. 734(c). Petitioner WUI has indicated that the carriers' present investment in Comsat is not substantial.

28

Chairman Minow expressed the FCC's concern that S.2814, which included the language "authorized users", would be construed as permitting Comsat to compete with the carriers for retail business. Because the FCC opposed such an interpretation, it suggested that S.2814 be rephrased as follows:

[Comsat is authorized to:]

(2) furnish, for hire, channels of communications to United States communications common carriers, as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission, and to foreign governments, foreign communications administrations and foreign recognized private operating agencies, engaged in providing public communications services.

(b) * * *

(4) contract with the entities referred to in subsection (a)(2) of this section for the services of the communications satellite system.

Communications Satellite Legislation: Hearings on S.2650 and S.2814 Before the Senate Comm. on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 2-10, 210, 470-71 (1962). See 47 U.S.C. Sec. 735(a)(2).

29

H.R. 10115, The House version of S.2814, also provided that Comsat could offer satellite services to "other authorized entities". Communications Satellites: Hearings on H.R. 10115 and 10138 Before The House Comm. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 408, 416-17 (1962)

30

See Communications Satellite Legislation: Hearing on S.2814 and S.2814, Amendment, Before the Senate Comm. on Commerce, 87th Cong., 2d Sess. 65, 67-68 (1962)

31

Basic transmission is a retail service that includes transmission between U.S. earth stations and Intelsat satellites. Carriers who are permitted to independently own and operate U.S. earth stations must be given "nondiscriminatory use of, and equitable access to, the communications satellite system." 47 U.S.C. Sec. 721(c)(2). Thus, carriers who own and operate U.S. earth stations must be permitted access to Intelsat's satellites. Because carriers can provide earth station service and because carriers can obtain access to Intelsat's satellites, the carriers have the ability to offer basic transmission service

32

In 1978, the Department of Defense (DOD) solicited bids for a special type of circuit between earth stations in Hawaii and Guam. In determining their bids, the IRCs obtained quotations from Comsat for the necessary space segment of $183,200 per circuit per month. Despite the FCC's Authorized User I policy, Comsat also entered a bid to provide service for DOD. Comsat's bid was $90,900 per circuit per month. On November 16, 1979, Comsat filed applications with the FCC to construct the Hawaii and Guam earth stations and to provide basic transmission service to the DOD. Thereafter, the DOD filed a pleading in support and a number of carriers filed petitions against Comsat's application. In the carriers' petitions, they asserted, among other things, that Comsat violated the Federal antitrust laws by engaging in predatory pricing. Further, the carriers argued that permitting Comsat to offer basic transmission service to the general public would have certain anticompetitive effects

Initially, the FCC denied Comsat's Hawaii/Guam applications because Comsat's rate did not cover the full cost of the proposed service. Communications Satellite Corporation, 80 FCC 2d 170 (1980). On May 29, 1981, however, the FCC vacated its denial of Comsat's Hawaii/Guam applications and designated the applications for an expedited hearing before an administrative law judge. Communications Satellite Corporation, 86 FCC 712, 713 (1981). After an evidentiary hearing, the administrative law judge found that Comsat's bidding practice was both illegal and anticompetitive. A number of parties filed exceptions to the administrative law judge's initial decision. Because of a potential settlement, the FCC postponed oral arguments indefinitely. On June 8, 1982, ITT filed a motion with the FCC requesting the FCC to incorporate the record of the Hawaii/Guam proceedings into the Authorized User II docket. Although the FCC denied ITT's motion to incorporate, it did consider the proceedings prior to issuing its Authorized User II decision. See Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1429 (1982).

Petitioners advance two arguments which concern the Hawaii/Guam proceedings. First, petitioners assert that the Hawaii/Guam proceedings illustrate the danger that Comsat will engage in predatory pricing and that Comsat will cross-subsidize its subsidiary if the FCC permits Comsat to enter the retail markets. In our view, Petitioners' concerns are premature. Surely, the FCC can take remedial action if Comsat engages in illegal activity. See United States v. FCC, 652 F.2d 72, 106 (D.C.Cir.1980).

Petitioners' second argument concerns the likelihood that the FCC's Authorized User II policy will have certain anticompetitive effects. Specifically, petitioners assert that the Hawaii/Guam case demonstrates their inability to compete with Comsat for leased-channel business under the FCC's Authorized User II policy. In response, the FCC believes that its requirement that Comsat establish a separate subsidiary prior to competing with the IRCs for exchange service business will prevent any "price squeeze because Comsat's subsidiary and the IRCs will receive space segment capacity from Comsat on equal terms." Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1429 (1982). The FCC's requirement that Comsat establish a separate subsidiary, however, concerns only the exchange service market. Pursuant to the FCC's Authorized User II policy, Comsat may provide leased-channel service directly to consumers. In the Hawaii/Guam proceedings, DOD requested bids for leased-channel service beginning at a U.S. earth station. Thus, the FCC's requirement that Comsat establish a separate subsidiary prior to entering the retail exchange service market is irrelevant to the question whether the IRCs will be able to compete with Comsat for leased-channel business under the FCC's Authorized User II policy. Indeed, the Hawaii/Guam proceedings confirm this court's conclusion that intramodal competition between the IRCs and Comsat for leased-channel business is unlikely under the FCC's Authorized User II policy. See text accompanying note 40, infra.

33

The petitioners also assert that the FCC, by permitting Comsat to engage in illegal tying arrangements, has violated its duty to assure that Comsat's activities are "consistent with Federal antitrust laws", 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701(c). We disagree. The primary purpose of the Satellite Act is not to maintain and strengthen competition; rather, the Act was intended to establish and operate an efficient global communications system for the benefit of the general public. 47 U.S.C. Sec. 701(a). Although one of the policies of the Act is to "maintain and strengthen competition in the provision of communications services to the public," competition is not an end in itself. United States v. FCC, 652 F.2d 72, 82 (D.C.Cir.1980) ("Competition is but one element of a determination of the public interest."). Competition is important only as a means of furthering the public interest. Indeed, Congress by giving the FCC the power to grant Comsat the sole right to own and operate earth stations, indicated that it was aware that vigorous competition between all carriers within the satellite system might, in some circumstances, hinder the establishment and operation of the global communications satellite system. Thus, although the FCC must consider whether competition is hindered, and whether the risk of reduced competition affects the public interest, we believe that the primary limitation on the FCC's discretion is that it act to promote the public interest. See 47 U.S.C. Sec. 721(c)(7), (8), (9), (10)

34

See note 19, supra

35

If Comsat is permitted to compete with the IRCs at the retail level, Petitioner ITT predicts a diversion of 65 to 70 percent of its total leased-channel business or approximately 20 million dollars of revenue each year to Comsat. With regard to the industry as a whole, ITT predicts that Comsat's entry into the retail markets will result in a total revenue diversion from the IRCs to Comsat of 24 to 27 percent or approximately 120-125 million dollars each year

36

See note 9, supra. See also Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1416 (1982)

37

Petitioner ITT has indicated that some of its customers still prefer cable to satellite because satellite transmission is more subject to delay. ITT has also informed this court, however, that a recent development in satellite technology has eliminated the risk of delay which accompanies satellite transmission. ITT predicts that the implementation of this new technology will make cable and satellite service even more interchangeable than in the past

38

When the satellite leased-channel service either begins or ends at a U.S. earth station, no important distinction can be made between the leased-channel services offered by Comsat and the IRCs. We recognize that the IRCs also make end-link arrangements for leased-channel customers. One of the primary characteristics of the leased-channel market, however, is that leased-channel customers are capable of making their own arrangement for end-links

39

Comsat's bundled rate for transmission between a U.S. earth station and Intelsat satellite is approximately $1125 per month. Two-thirds of Comsat's bundled rate is considered payment for space segment service; thus, an authorized user's cost for space segment capacity is approximately $750.00 per month. In contrast, Comsat leases space segment capacity from Intelsat at a rate known as the Intelsat utilization charge (IUC); Comsat's present cost for space segment capacity is approximately $390.00 per month

40

Although the IRCs do not simply "resell" basic service to leased-channel consumers, the additional leased-channel services provided by the IRCs are quality control and end-links. Clearly, the IRCs will be unable to compete with Comsat solely on their ability to provide efficient quality control. Presumably, Comsat, the entity with the most experience in satellite communications, is capable of providing an equally efficient quality control system

41

The $46,000 figure used by the FCC as an example of advances in cable technology was the expected capital investment by AT & T for a transatlantic telephone cable with a capacity of 4200 voice-grade circuits. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1414 (1982). See American Telephone and Telegraph Co., 73 FCC 2d 248, 257 (1979)

42

Fiber optics is a recent development in cable technology; information can be sent by means of light through a cable which contains very thin glass or plastic fibers. Curves in a fiber optic cable do not affect the transmission of messages

43

See note 35, supra

44

The FCC has indicated that a loss of leased-channel business by the IRCs would result in idle cable facilities. Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1416 (1982). Because the IRCs' telex business has been experiencing rapid growth, the FCC believes that "IRC facilities idled by any loss of leased-channel service can, at least in part, be transferred to the provision of the growing telex service." Id. (emphasis added). The FCC's conclusion, however, is based on its assumption that Authorized User II is unlikely to result in a substantial diversion of leased-channel business from the IRCs to Comsat

45

See note 13, supra

46

Comsat would have to expend a great deal of time and money to establish a subsidiary which could compete with the IRCs for exchange service business. Comsat's primary incentive for establishing a subsidiary would be to increase its customer base; presumably, Comsat's subsidiary would favor Comsat's satellite service over the common carriers' cable service. The FCC, however, has promised Comsat that it will continue to regulate the industry to assure that both the cable and the satellite systems are "reasonably used". Authorized User II, 90 FCC 2d 1394, 1426 (1982). In light of the great expense involved in establishing a subsidiary and the FCC's decision to guarantee Comsat a number of customers, Comsat's refusal to enter the exchange service market at this time is understandable

47

See note 21, supra

48

We affirm the FCC's decisions in Spanish International Network, 70 FCC 2d 2127 (1978) (SIN I ), Communications Satellite Corporation, 76 FCC 2d 5 (1980) (SIN II ), and Communications Satellite Corporation, 79 FCC 2d 562 (1980) (SIN II ). The only issue presented by these cases is whether the FCC has abused its discretion by granting television networks and other television service consumers authorized user status

The Satellite Act of 1962 grants the FCC broad discretion to designate non-carriers as authorized users upon a proper finding that such status furthers the public interest. In SIN I, 70 FCC 2d 2127, 2141 (1978), the FCC found specifically that permitting television service customers to deal directly with Comsat would further the public interest. To support its public interest determination, the FCC reasoned that direct service from Comsat to television service customers would lessen the risk of "service mix-ups and delays." Id. at 2140. Further, the FCC indicated that its decision, which permits television service customers to make their own arrangements for end-links, would assure that the carriers' price for end-to-end television transmission service reflects the carriers' true costs. The expected public benefits which may result from the FCC's decision granting television service customers the ability to lease basic transmission service directly from Comsat support fully the FCC's public interest determination. Thus, we hold that the FCC has not abused its discretion by designating networks and other television service customers as authorized users.

Our decision to affirm the "SIN" cases is not inconsistent with our conclusion that the FCC has abused its discretion by firmly establishing a policy of promoting intermodal competition prior to considering the direct access and independent earth station ownership issues. International television transmission can only be sent by satellite. SIN I, 70 FCC 2127, 2129 (1978). Consequently, the FCC's decision to grant networks and other television service customers authorized user status does not concern the FCC's new policy of heightening intermodal competition in both the leased-channel and exchange service markets. Moreover, television transmission service accounts for less than one percent of the carriers' total revenues. Consequently, there is no basis for concluding that a loss by the carriers of television service business will affect adversely either the carriers' ability to provide other services or their price for other services. In short, the FCC's SIN decisions do not represent an attempt by the FCC to restructure the entire telecommunications industry.

49

See note 46, supra

50

Independent earth station ownership could result in a short term increase in the cost of earth station services. Presumably, the industry's earth station capacity will increase if the IRCs are permitted to independently construct, own and operate earth stations. If the demand for earth station service either remains constant or fails to keep pace with the industry's increase in earth station capacity, the general cost of operating earth stations will increase. An increase in the cost of earth station operations would increase the potential for intermodal competition; the higher price for satellite services would diminish price difference between cable and satellite services. Of course, the FCC must consider whether a short term increase in the price of the earth station services is likely and whether a short term increase is consistent with the public interest

51

In Aeronautical Radio, Inc., 77 F.C.C.2d 535, 536 (1980), the notice of proposed rulemaking to review the FCC's Authorized User I policy, the FCC indicates that:

The question of Comsat's authority to deal directly with certain authorized users, along with the possibility of allowing the United States International Service Carriers (USISC) access to the international satellite space segment provided by INTELSAT, underlies several matters before us. In view of its far reaching implications, we would prefer to address these questions in the context of a single application rather than on an ad hoc basis. The very nature and complexity of the issues that must be addressed, their basic impact on the overall structure of the international telecommunications industry and the number of parties interested in the outcome compel us to conclude that the questions raised by the petitioners should be considered in a broad rule making proceeding.

52

We emphasize that this Court expresses no opinion regarding the merit of the FCC's policy determination to foster intermodal competition in both the leased-channel and the exchange service markets. We hold only that the FCC failed to consider relevant factors prior to establishing its policy. In this regard, this Court's opinion does not represent an attempt by this Court to infringe on the FCC's primary function of establishing policy

53

Direct access and independent earth station ownership are not new issues. Direct access was first proposed by WUI in 1975 and 1976 during the FCC's international facilities planning process. Memorandum Opinion Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 77-536 (1977). In 1978, when the FCC began to consider the question whether international television customers should be granted authorized user status, WUI, RCA, and ITT filed comments and asked the FCC to consider the merit of direct access. See SIN I, 70 FCC 2d 2127, 2128 (1978). The Department of Justice also requested that the FCC "establish terms and conditions under which the international carriers may deal directly with Intelsat." Comments of Department of Justice, (April 12, 1978). In its SIN decision, the FCC promised that it would "soon issue a Notice of Inquiry to re-evaluate the entire Authorized User Decision [and that it would] also examine the carrier's capital investment proposals." SIN I, 70 FCC 2127 (1978). In late 1979 and early 1980, when the Department of Defense and Aeronautical Radio, Inc. filed petitions for authorized user status, RCA and other carriers again filed comments urging the FCC to consider the merit of direct access. Opposition to the ARINC petition, January 18, 1980; Comments of ITT on ARINC's petition, January 21, 1980; Comments of WUI on DOD petition, January 28, 1980. In 1980, the merit of direct access was discussed in still another round of public debate. Communication Satellite Corp., 81 FCC 2d 287 (1980)

The independent earth station ownership issue was first brought to the FCC's attention in 1969. In December of 1969, the FCC initiated a proceeding to reconsider its "interim" earth station ownership policy. Earth Station Ownership and Operation, 20 FCC 2d 735 (1969). The FCC solicited comments by the parties concerning the benefits of independent ownership and operation of earth stations and cited the potential for better service and lower rates as public benefits which could justify a reversal of the FCC's joint ownership policy. In the SIN proceeding, the petitioners renewed their request for independent ownership of earth stations. Finally, petitioners and others reiterated their request for the right to independently own and operate earth stations at the onset of these proceedings in 1980. In summary, the direct access issue has been before the FCC for more than seven years and the independent earth station ownership issue for more than thirteen years.

54

Issues not specifically addressed in this opinion have been found by this court to be without merit