OTTAWA, Ontario-The Federal Communications Commission gave Ottawa-based mobile satellite system operator TMI Communications the go-ahead to provide service in all 50 U.S. states via the MSAT-1 satellite, which has a coverage area of North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and 250 miles of surrounding shore.
The company filed an application to provide service in the United States in March of last year. The FCC delayed its approval of TMI’s license largely because TMI’s terrestrial gateways for its satellite system are not in the United States, possibly compromising national security because it would be difficult for the FBI to conduct court-ordered wiretaps. U.S. court orders are largely meaningless outside the United States.
TMI Communications delivers packet and circuit-switched data communications, voice, fax, e-mail, file transfer, Internet access, digital broadcast dispatch, mobile messaging and position-reporting services.
TMI said its satellite service is suited for the maritime, mining, government, transportation, utility and petroleum industries.
