ContactMEO Communications LLC, a supplier of IP connectivity as well as innovative broadcast and transport solutions, has been granted authority from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for a global satellite system consisting of three non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) satellites and four geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites to provide fixed-satellite Ka-band service.

The license was awarded on April 14, 2006, and ContactMEO submitted the required performance bond on May 15, 2006, to complete the authorization of the license.

David Drucker, chairman of ContactMEO Communication, LLC, also co-founder of Echostar and founder of Wildblue Communications stated, “We see this new opportunity as a way to affordably reach the unserved and underserved markets in the U.S. and around the world with high quality broadband services.”

ContactMEO will provide services from GSO locations specifically serving the United States including Alaska and Hawaii from 121º West; the United States and Latin America from 83º West; the Middle East and Europe from 34º East; and Asia from 130º East. The NGSO satellites will be in highly elliptical orbits and serve additional parts of the globe, particularly the higher latitudes, as well as provide support services.