NEWSIN 97-6                   INTERNATIONAL ACTION  March 14, 1997

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU GRANTS TELEDESIC CORPORATION LICENSE TO PROVIDE
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FIXED SATELLITE SERVICE IN KA-BAND

       Today the International Bureau issued an Order that authorizes Teledesic Corporation
to construct, launch, and operate a satellite system in non-geostationary satellite orbit to
provide domestic and international fixed-satellite services in the Ka-band.  Authorization of
this service will provide a variety of advanced interactive broadband information services to
users of the United States and the world.  This is the first such license the FCC has granted.  
   
       Seattle based Teledesic is backed by Craig McCaw, Chairman of McCaw Cellular, and
Bill Gates, Chairman of the Board of Microsoft Corporation.  Teledesic proposes an
innovative satellite constellation that will comprise an "Internet in the sky."  The satellite
system will link computers around the world with high-speed connections.  The Teledesic
network will also offer other information services, from high-quality voice channels to
broadband channels supporting videoconferencing, interactive multimedia, and real-time, two-
way digital data.  

       Teledesic's satellite system will consist of 840 non-geostationary satellites that will
surround the globe in low earth orbit.  Teledesic was authorized to operate in the United
States in the 28.6 - 29.1 GHz (uplink) and 18.8 -19.3 GHz (downlink) band segments for its
service links and 27.6-28.4 GHz bands for its "gigalink" gateway terminal uplink and the
17.8-18.6 GHz band for its "gigalink" gateway terminal downlinks.  Teledesic will also use
inter-satellite links to interconnect each satellite with eight other satellites in the same and
adjacent planes. The satellites will be approximately 435 miles above the earth.  

       Teledesic has also proposed to provide twenty-four hour seamless coverage to over
95% of the Earth's surface and almost 100% of the Earth's population.  All of the United
States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the U.S. territories in
the Pacific are within its proposed coverage area. Teledesic's authorization is conditioned on
it complying with the service rules to be adopted in a forthcoming Commission action on
rules for the Ka-Band satellite services.
       
       News Media contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256.
       International Bureau contact:  Jennifer Gilsenan at (202) 418-0757.