RESTON, Va. - (Business Wire) Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) today announced that it has joined with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) to form a new satellite mutual aid radio talkgroup (SMART) dedicated to the preparation for and response to earthquakes throughout the central United States.
CUSEC is a partnership of the federal government and eight states most affected by earthquakes in the central U.S. including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The organization serves as the coordinating hub for the multi-state region and as a partnership of organizations to mediate disasters and save lives caused by earthquakes in the central U.S.
Working with MSV, CUSEC will manage and approve talkgroup participation by federal, tribal, state and local public safety agencies, and appropriate private sector users with public safety missions. This new earthquake preparedness satellite talkgroup enables critical and interoperable communications at all levels of public safety agencies and facilities in the eight-state region. For those agencies already using MSV’s technology, these talkgroups represent a major step forward in having reliable and interoperable communications in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake where terrestrial networks are damaged or congested.
“We see this as an excellent opportunity to expand connectivity between our member states,” said Jim Wilkinson, executive director of CUSEC. “The need to have redundancy in communications systems is amplified by the large area of the earthquake threat and the multi-jurisdictional issues.”
“Many do not realize that two very active and dangerous seismic zones - The New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones - are located in the central United States,” said Jim Corry, vice president of Government Solutions for MSV. “The newly established “CUSEC-1” SMART talkgroup will serve as an important supplement to existing interoperable communications. CUSEC can now make this tool available to all levels of public safety and emergency response for organizations operating throughout its eight-state partnership region.”
The CUSEC SMART talkgroup joins a growing family of nationwide and regionally-focused talkgroups, administered by MSV and managed and controlled by the organizing federal, tribal, state or local agencies. These include nationwide public safety and national security SMART talkgroups managed by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Communications System (NCS), and regional SMART talkgroups being formed or operating in more than 30 states across the nation and the District of Columbia.
All public safety organizations with active accounts on the MSV network are eligible and encouraged to join CUSEC’s SMART talkgroup at no charge. A copy of the Standard Operating Procedures and application are available from: CUSEC-1@cusec.org or by calling (901) 544-3570 or MSV Customer Service at 1 (800) 216-6728.
MSV is Redefining Wireless Communications™ through its development of a hybrid satellite-terrestrial communications network, based on MSV’s patented ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) technology. The company expects its next-generation network will provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous wireless coverage of the United States and Canada to conventional handsets. MSV plans to launch two of the most powerful commercial satellites ever built that will enable this network to support communications in a variety of areas including public safety, homeland security, aviation, transportation and entertainment, by providing a platform for interoperable, user-friendly and feature-rich voice and high-speed data services.
Mobile Satellite Ventures is a joint venture between Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc. MSVLP is owned and controlled by SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTCBB:SKYT).
About Mobile Satellite Ventures (www.msvlp.com)
MSV delivers mobile wireless voice and data services primarily for public safety, security, fleet management and asset tracking in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s next-generation hybrid satellite-terrestrial communications network is expected to provide seamless, transparent and ubiquitous wireless coverage of the United States and Canada to conventional handsets. When completed, the network will support communications in a variety of areas including public safety, homeland security, aviation, transportation and entertainment, by providing a platform for interoperable, user-friendly and feature-rich voice and high-speed data services. Mobile Satellite Ventures is a joint venture between Mobile Satellite Ventures LP and Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc. MSVLP is owned and controlled by SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTCBB:SKYT).
Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to plans described in this news release. Such statements generally include words such as could, can, anticipate, believe, expect, seek, pursue, proposed, potential and similar words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties relating to the ability of SkyTerra and MSV to raise additional capital or consummate a strategic transaction or deploy the next generation system, as well as the ability of SkyTerra and MSV to execute their business plan. We assume no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP
Tom Surface, 703-390-1579
Mobile: 703-462-3837
tsurface@msvlp.com
