THE OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE PUBLISHED A FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ON NOVEMBER 24, 2004 (69 FR 68439) REQUESTING COMMENTS CONCERNING COMPLIANCE WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRADE AGREEMENTS. THE FR NOTICE IS AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Federal_Register_Notices/2004/Section_Index.html.

THIS REQUEST WAS PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 1377 OF THE OMNIBUS TRADE AND COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1988 (19 U.S.C. 3106) WHEREBY USTR REVIEWS ANDREQUESTS COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING:

• THE OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH, THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT;
• OTHER WTO AGREEMENTS AFFECTING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OF THE UNITED STATES;
• THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVISIONS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE
  AGREEMENT (NAFTA), THE CHILE AND SINGAPORE FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, AND ALL OTHER FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS COMING INTO FORCE EITHER ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2005; AND,
• ALL OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRADE AGREEMENTS.

COMMENTS ARE DUE BY NOON ON DECEMBER 17, 2004. REPLY COMMENTS ARE DUE BY NOON ON JANUARY 17, 2005. USTR WILL CONCLUDE ITS REVIEW BY MARCH 31,2005.

COMPANIES SHOULD CONSIDER FILING COMMENTS PARTICULARLY IF THEY BELIEVE AND CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT PRACTICES IN AN INDIVIDUAL MARKET ARE INCONSISTENT WITH EXISTING TRADE COMMITMENTS UNDERTAKEN BY THAT COUNTRY. (INSTANCES OF NOTABLE COMPLIANCE WITH TRADE AGREEMENTS ALSO COULD BE USEFUL AS EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES.)

A LIST OF RELEVANT TRADE AGREEMENTS IS AVAILABLE AT:http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov. THE WTO BASIC TELECOM AGREEMENT IS AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/telecom_e/telecom_commit_exempt_list_e.htm.