NEWSReport No. IN 98-9                     INTERNATIONAL ACTION               March 13, 1998

                FCC GRANTS LICENSE MODIFICATION FOR AMSC'S
                             SATELLITE SYSTEM

      FCC's International Bureau today granted AMSC Subsidiary Corp. authority to
change its space station facility and to operate the new facility temporarily at a different
orbital location.  The Bureau's action on the application, which was filed in December, came
two weeks after the pleading cycle was completed.

     AMSC has provided telecommunications service to users equipped with mobile
terminals since 1995 via its "AMSC-1" geostationary satellite, which occupies an assigned
orbital location of 101 degrees W.L.  Instead of continuing to use that satellite, AMSC
would lease it to a South African company, African Continental Telecommunications,
Ltd.("ACTEL"), which would in turn move it to a different orbital location and use it to
provide service in southern Africa.  To replace AMSC-1, AMSC would reroute its traffic via
"MSAT-1," a satellite currently owned by a Canadian company, TMI Communications and
Company, Ltd., and licensed by Canada.  TMI operates MSAT-1 at 106.5 degrees W.L.
TMI and AMSC will jointly own and operate MSAT-1, which they will move to 101 degrees
W.L.

     The Bureau concluded that any disruption in service to AMSC's customers would be
minimal and that implementation of the proposal would foster more efficient use of satellite
facilities and enable AMSC to enhance its commercial viability and obtain funds needed for
further development of its system.

     This is the first case in which the Commission has been asked to approve an
arrangement where a U.S. licensee would share a satellite with an operator licensed by a
foreign government.  The Bureau's order is conditioned on the outcome of consultation with
the Canadian government.

     Action by the Chief, International Bureau, March 13, 1998, by Order and
Authorization (DA 98-493).

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball (202) 418-0500.
     International Bureau contact: Fern Jarmulnek at (202) 418-0751