Globalstar Canada

50 Burnhamthorpe Road West
10th Floor
Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3C2

November 3, 1998

Mr. Michael Helm
Director General
Telecommunications Policy Branch
Industry Canada
300 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
KIA 0C8

Dear Mr. Helm: 

Re: Gazette Notice No. DGTP-014-98 - Proposed Amendment to the Policy Framework for the Provision of Mobile Satellite Services, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on October 10, 1998

Globalstar Canada Co. ("Globalstar Canada") is pleased to comment on the above-referenced discussion paper.

Globalstar Canada supports Industry Canada's initiative to revise the eligibility of service providers to offer service under the existing Mobile Satellite Policy Framework. The proposed amendment to the policy framework generally meets the objective of liberalising the licensing regime for MSS earth stations. Relaxing the ownership requirements for earth stations that provide satellite-based telecommunications services will, in addition to honouring Canada's obligations under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trades in Services Agreement on Basic Telecommunications (GATS-ABT), give Canadians access to cost effective satellite telecommunication services.

Globalstar Canada encourages Industry Canada to proceed to adopt these changes immediately.

Sincerely

Claude Lewis
President and CEO
cc: M. Hunt, Industry Canada
R. Sombach, Globalstar Canada
P. Dumas, Cancom