[Federal Register: August 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 165)]
[Notices]               
[Page 50049-50050]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au08-69]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2008-0885]

 
Public Meeting on Amendments to the International Mobile 
Satellite Organization (IMSO) Convention

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will hold a public meeting on 
issues related to proposed amendments to the Convention of the 
International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO). Background 
documentation may be found on the Department of State's Web site: 
http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip/imso/.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 10 
a.m. to 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 
Second Street, SW., Washington, DC. Room 6103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Jason Smith at 
(202) 372-1376 or by e-mail to jason.e.smith2@uscg.mil or fax to (202) 
372-1925.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This public meeting will discuss proposed 
Amendments to the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) 
Convention to Improve Governance and Transparency of IMSO, to provide 
IMSO with the necessary legal authority to perform its role in the 
Congressionally-mandated Long Range Identification and Tracking of 
Ships (LRIT) system and to provisionally apply those amendments in 
advance of their formal entry into force.
    The amendments are intended to improve the governance and 
transparency of IMSO oversight and responsibilities that may affect 
U.S. and non-U.S. mobile satellite services providers. The IMSO is 
convening its biennial Assembly of Parties meeting September 29-October 
3, 2008, in Malta, during which the 92 member governments (Parties) 
will have the opportunity to consider and act on U.S. proposals (1) to 
amend the intergovernmental IMSO Convention to improve the governance 
and transparency of (i) IMSO's performance of its role in oversight of 
providers for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) 
and (ii) IMSO's performance of its role as Coordinator of Long Range 
Identification and Tracking of ships (LRIT) for the International 
Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee (IMO MSC); and (2) to 
consider whether to provisionally apply those amendments upon their 
adoption by the IMSO Assembly, pending their formal entry into force.
    Currently, the IMSO's authority for oversight of GMDSS services 
applies exclusively to Inmarsat PLC. In September 2006, the IMSO 
Assembly adopted amendments to the IMSO Convention that were intended 
to extend IMSO's GMDSS oversight to include all mobile satellite 
service providers, not just Inmarsat PLC. Additionally, in the context 
of work that has been ongoing in the IMO, the IMSO Assembly of Parties 
at the same meeting adopted an amendment to the IMSO Convention that 
purports to authorize IMSO to perform certain review and auditing 
functions for a new vessel ``LRIT'' system being developed for maritime 
security. The United States, along with other Parties, objected to 
these amendments because they did not contain sufficient elements of 
transparency for IMSO's governance and do not provide an adequate legal 
foundation for IMSO to undertake functions as LRIT Coordinator. 
Further, at an extraordinary Assembly of Parties meeting in March 2007, 
a majority of Parties attending the Assembly decided to provisionally 
apply them, again over the United States' objection. In the meantime, 
the Congress has mandated that the Department of Homeland Security 
develop and implement, consistent with international treaties, 
conventions, and agreements to which the United States is a party, an 
LRIT system for all vessels equipped with GMDSS or equivalent 
technology. See 46 U.S.C. 70115. In a related development, over United 
States' objection, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) decided to 
recommend, and the IMO Assembly adopted, a resolution mandating that 
new satellite providers admitted to the GMDSS by the MSC must be 
overseen by IMSO. See IMO Res. A.1001(25), which revoked and replaced 
IMO Res. A.888(21). Because of these latter developments, particularly 
the adoption by the IMO of Res. A.1001, and in order to put the IMSO on 
a sound legal foundation that will provide sufficient governance and 
transparency principles for IMSO's operations in these two new 
functions, the United States is planning to propose and negotiate a 
draft set of amendments to the IMSO Convention at the upcoming Assembly 
of Parties that will accomplish these purposes. The public meeting is 
intended to solicit public comment on that approach.

[[Page 50050]]

Public comment will also be solicited on provisional application of 
those amendments. If provisional application is approved, the Parties 
would apply those amendments in advance of their formal entry into 
force under the terms of the IMSO Convention. Formal entry into force 
under the IMSO Convention requires deposit of an instrument of 
acceptance with the depositary by 2/3 of the IMSO Parties at the time 
of adoption. As such, it is not likely to occur for a lengthy period of 
time. The public meeting will also address other issues that are likely 
to come before the IMSO Assembly of Parties meeting, including, inter 
alia, a draft reference Public Services Agreement that guides the terms 
and conditions of the contractual agreement that satellite service 
providers would be required to sign before being allowed to provide 
services for the GMDSS. The Public Services Agreement would require the 
payment of new fees to the IMSO. Public views and advice are being 
sought well in advance of the IMSO Assembly.
    The proposed amendments and other background information relating 
to this meeting are available at the following Department of State Web 
site: http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip/imso/.
    Persons planning to attend this meeting should send their name and 
nationality by e-mail to jason.e.smith2@uscg.mil or fax to (202) 372-
1925 not later than 72 hours before the meeting. Please note that due 
to security considerations, two valid, government issued photo 
identifications must be presented to gain entrance to the Headquarters 
building. The Headquarters building is accessible by taxi and privately 
owned conveyance (public transportation is not generally available). 
However, parking in the vicinity of the building is extremely limited.
    Members of the public are encouraged to participate and join in 
discussions, subject to the discretion of the moderator. Persons 
wishing to make formal presentations should provide advance notice to 
Lieutenant Commander Jason Smith.

Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Lieutenant Commander Jason Smith at (202) 372-1376 or by e-mail at 
jason.e.smith2@uscg.mil as soon as possible.

    Dated: August 21, 2008.
William D. Baumgartner,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Judge Advocate General.
[FR Doc. E8-19711 Filed 8-21-08; 11:15 am]

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