Report No. IN  98-14                  INTERNATIONAL ACTION           March 31, 1998

    FCC GRANTS LICENSES FOR EMERGING LITTLE LEO SERVICES TO
            E-SAT, VITA, ORBCOMM AND FINAL ANALYSIS 

     The FCC's International Bureau has granted, subject to certain specified conditions,
authorizations to four companies to operate non-voice, non-geostationary mobile-satellite systems
in low Earth orbit (NVNG MSS or Little Leo systems).  Little Leo systems allow customers to use
small, inexpensive, mobile user terminals to send and receive short data messages anywhere in the
world.  The companies receiving authorizations today are:

          E-Sat, Inc.  E-Sat will offer data communications services including data messaging
     services for the gas and electric utility industry, data messaging and retrieval in support of
     the direct-to-home broadcast-satellite service, messaging for environmental monitoring, and
     other services.

          Final Analysis Communications Services, Inc.   Final Analysis will offer data
     communications services, including two-way data messaging, vehicle tracking and remote
     meter reading.

          Orbital Communications Corp (Orbcomm).  Orbcomm is authorized to modify its NVNG
     MSS system, previously authorized in 1994, which will offer two-way messaging and data
     communications, including emergency alert and vehicle tracking.

          Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA).   VITA is a non-profit, humanitarian aid
     organization that provides services to developing countries around the world.  It will use its
     Little LEO system to provide educational, health, environmental, disaster relief, and data
     technical communications services in developing countries.

     The Commission adopted rules and policies for the licensing and operation of these Little
Leo systems on October 8, 1997.   The granting of these four applications, in addition to the
granting of the application of LEO One USA Corporation (Leo One) on February 13, 1998,
completes the current processing round of Little LEO authorizations.

     Action by the Chief, International Bureau, March 31, 1998, by Orders and Authorizations
(DA Nos. 98-616, 98-617, 98-618, and 98-619).

                             - FCC -

     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
          International Bureau contacts:  Cassandra Thomas and Robert Calaff at (202) 418-0420.