MCI TECHNOLOGY TO AID IN GLOBAL SEARCH AND RESCUE; MCI to provide critical communications to support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's worldwide search and rescue service

Business Wire, Oct 19, 1995

SUITLAND, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 1995--MCI will offer crucial international communication services for the search and rescue of ships and planes, under terms of a recently awarded contract with NOAA. MCI's international telecommunications services will support the U.S. Mission Control Center segment of the COSPAS/SARSAT satellite program.

A joint U.S., Russian, Canadian and French venture, the COSPAS/SARSAT program uses U.S. NOAA and Russian satellites, telecommunications and computers to support search and rescue worldwide for downed airplanes, capsized boats, as well as help in other emergency situations. COSPAS is the Russian acronym for Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress, and SARSAT is the U.S. acronym for Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System. Currently over 25 nations participate as ground segment providers and users of the COSPAS/SARSAT data.

Since its 1982 inception, COSPAS/SARSAT has saved more than 4,500 lives worldwide, half of which were in the U.S. region. "This gives the term `critical application' new meaning," said Jerry Edgerton, MCI vice president of Government Markets. "MCI values the life-saving mission of the COSPAS/SARSAT program. There's no doubt that MCI's reliable, advanced technology will be essential to this program."

MCI will provide all international telecommunication services to the U.S. Mission Control Center, a powerful computer center at NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in Suitland, Md. Under this 10 year, multi-million dollar contract, MCI will provide a Packet Switching Network that offers international X.25 protocol communications and international Telex and facsimile capabilities. MCI services will be operable by the end of the year.

MCI has worked with NOAA since 1994 to build and maintain an intricate network that allows the World Area Forecast System weather data to be quickly and easily sent to meteorologists around the world. This Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite service supplies the World Area Forecast System data to more than 75 countries in the Atlantic and Pacific regions.

"I am very confident working with MCI on this critical international program," said William Burkhart, SARSAT operations manager. "MCI has successfully supported NOAA's unique needs in the past -- and will undoubtedly do so in the future."

Emergency transmitters key to rescue operations

A 1972 congressional mandate requires that most planes be equipped with transmitters that send emergency alerts upon crash impact. Most maritime vessels must carry transmitters that activate upon immersion.

These transmitters are designed to send emergency distress signals. A satellite "reads" these signals and transmits them to one of 28 Local User Terminal ground stations throughout the world. The Local User Terminal calculates and sends the location of the transmitter to a Mission Control Center which collects and edits the information and sends it to the land or sea rescue coordination center closest to the accident site. If at sea and within reach of U.S. Forces, the location is given to the Coast Guard; on land, it is given to the Air Force.

MCI will be responsible for the communications links connecting the U.S. Mission Control Center with foreign mission control centers and search and rescue contacts in the U.S. and around the world. MCI's network will provide the accurate, timely and reliable transport of this critical data.

SARSAT saves lives in the Northern Rockies

Two Canadians in a Cessna 182 crashed to the ground after having fought strong downdrafts in Glacier National Park. As they waited, their transmitter was beaming its emergency message. COSPAS and SARSAT both picked up the distress signals. The wreckage was pinpointed to within 10 miles. The U.S. Mission Control notified the Montana Aeronautics Division to coordinate the search and rescue effort. The rescue helicopter spotted the wreckage and transported the victims to medical care.

MCI Government Markets, based in McLean, VA, is the sales and marketing group serving U.S. government agencies and federally chartered organizations. MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., has expanded from its core long distance business to become the world's third largest carrier of international calling and a premier provider of data communications over the vast Internet computer network. With annual revenues of over 13 billion, the company today provides a wide array of consumer and business long-distance and local services, data and video communications, on-line information, electronic mail, network management services and communications software.

NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service manages the U.S. civil operational Earth-observing satellite systems. The service also manages global databases for meteorology, oceanography, solid-earth geophysics and solar-terrestrial sciences. -0- EDITOR'S NOTE: Graphics available upon request.

CONTACT: MCI Media Relations