FCC Clears Way for New Satellite Telecom Service

WASHINGTON —  Federal regulators cleared the way Friday for a new national and, eventually, global satellite service offering an array of two-way communications, including phone and fax.

Unlike conventional satellites that orbit thousands of miles in space, the new service uses satellites that orbit close to Earth. The orbit is low enough for people on the ground to use special hand-held phones and other devices to send and receive calls, messages, pages and other services.

After nearly five years of work, the Federal Communications Commission completed a plan on how companies may provide the service. Specifically, the commission, with the help of industry, resolved how public airwaves will be shared among companies.

Six companies have requests before the FCC to provide service. Only five national licenses are available, agency officials said. If the commission finds all six companies qualified, it will auction the licenses, spokeswoman Susan Sallet said.

Applications before the FCC are in the names of Ellipsat Corp., Motorola Satellite Communications, Constellation Communications Inc., Loral Cellular Systems Corp./Qualcomm Partnership, TRW Inc. and AMSC Subsidiary Corp., officials said.