Satellite

摘要

Intelsat hasn’t restored service to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) after meeting thisnweek with IRIB, the State Department and International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, ITSOnsaid. Intelsat stopped transmitting broadcasts for IRIB this month to comply with the National DefensenAuthorization Act of 2013, which imposes sanctions on IRIB (CD July 2 p12). Intelsat, IRIB and thenState Department agreed to exchange further correspondence over the coming weeks, "but at this point inntime there hasn’t been a decision regarding restoration of service," said Patrick Masambu, ITSO deputynmanaging general. The meeting was an initial discussion, "in the context of the ITSO agreement, concerningnthe expiration of Intelsat’s license to broadcast for IRIB as a result of placement of IRIB on the U.S.nTreasury Department’s specially designated nationals list," said a State Department official. Iran and thenU.S. are parties to the ITSO Agreement, which ensures that satellite communications are available on anglobal and non-discriminatory basis, the official said. The sanction isn’t focused on the Iranian broadcastnsector generally, the official said: The non-renewal of Intelsat’s license for IRIB "holds accountable anspecific Iranian entity used by the regime as an instrument of repression and intimidation."