Restructure and Satellite Competition
 
April 26, 1996,
Uris Hall, Columbia University.
Sponsored by the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information.

Transcript of Scott Harris' Speech Summary Program

About the Conference

In the past decade, the international satellite industry has witnessed a fundamental transformation in scope:
  • Intelsat and other international satellite providers lost a large share of the switched-service market to fiber cables. They now serve thin-route traffic, predominantly in less developed countries.
  • Satellite traffic from other sources, especially international television programming and multinational corporations, grew rapidly.
  • Rules regarding competition have been relaxed and rivalry has emerged.
Intelsat signatories are in the process of formulating a restructuring plan to allow more vigorous competition while remaining true to Intelsat's original mission of providing global switched voice connectivity. As the debate escalates, this conference will address a number of key questions related to the future of Intelsat and satellite competition including:
  • What government policies exist that allow exclusive dealership of Intelsat and/or restrict consumer access to satellite competitors?
  • Will developing countries be hurt by liberalizing access to satellite competitors?
  • How will consumers of satellite services be affected by the various structural options?

 

9:00-9:15am - Opening Remarks

9:15-11:00am - Does Intelsat Have Monopoly Power?

Presenters:
Rob Frieden, Penn State University
Leonard Waverman, University of Toronto
Johannes Pfeifenberger, The Brattle Group

Discussants:
Gregg Daffner, consultant
Jerry Duvall, FCC
Charles M. Oliver, Cohn and Marks

11:15-12:30pm - The Restructure of Intelsat

Panelists:
Michael Deich, National Economic Council
James Cuminale, PanAmSat
Robert B. Kaimowitz, Unterberg Harris
Donald Wear, Intelsat

12:30-2:00 Keynote Luncheon Address (Faculty House)
Scott Blake Harris Chief, International Bureau, FCC

2:00-3:45 - Government Terrestrial Policies

Presenters:
Tara K. Jiunta, Coudert Brothers
Gregg Daffner, consultant
Michael Einhorn, U.S. Department of Justice

Discussants:
Maury Mechanick, Comsat
Bill Henderson, Australian Embassy
Mansur Nuruddin, Northern Business Information

4:00-5:15 - The Customer's Perspective

Moderator:
Mary Frost, Price Waterhouse

Panelists:
Robert Zitter, HBO
Brent Stranathan, CBS
Dick Tauber, CNN
Richard Wolfe, ABC
Susan Irwin, Irwin Communications
Tim Shea, Keystone Communications

5:15-5:30 - Closing Remarks

5:30 - Cocktails (Faculty House)

Organized by

Michael Einhorn, U.S. Department of Justice/CITI
Lisa Domonkos, CITI