The other signatories to the unique agreement are commercial companies, Wavix, Inc. of Maryland (Wavix), and the Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd., of Guildford England (SSTL).

VITA is dedicated to bringing technical assistance to the developing world. In 1993, VITA received a "Pioneer's Preference" license from the Federal Communications Commission for its early work in non-military applications of low earth orbiting satellites. SSTL is one of the world's premier builders of small satellites and had launched its latest, UoSAT-12, in April.

Wavix has been seeking satellite capacity to transmit oceanographic and meteorological information to its clients, via the Internet, from ocean buoys worldwide.

A three party agreement has been worked out under which, subject to any necessary FCC approvals, SSTL will lease a transponder on UoSAT-12 to VITA, and VITA will operate the transponder in accordance with the terms of its FCC authorization for a low earth orbit satellite system. VITA will sub-lease capacity to Wavix, which will make financing available for the arrangement with SSTL.

VITA is entitled to use 50 percent of the capacity to serve rural populations in the developing countries and Wavix, Inc. will use the balance except for a small amount reserved to SSTL.

This complex arrangement took a year to negotiate. However, the parties feel they have achieved a win-win situation in which the interests of all three organizations, particularly VITA's commitment to bring communications to rural populations, are dramatically advanced.

Norman pointed out that "one half the population of the world has never made a telephone call and most are isolated by poverty, geography and distance. We will now be able to help bring them into the mainstream of development. That has been the purpose of this effort and we now have the means to begin."

John Borden, President and CEO of Wavix, Inc., said, "We are very pleased that in addition to meeting our own need to transmit large volumes of data, we can join with VITA in this unique and pioneering humanitarian venture."

SSTL's Technical Director, Jeff Ward, said, "We are happy to have this opportunity to work with VITA and Wavix. The negotiations were complicated, but their ultimate success was assured by the desire of all the parties to make it happen."

A second satellite in the "virtual constellation," HealthSat-2, is owned by SatelLife of Watertown, Massachusetts, which was founded by Dr. Bernard Lown, professor emeritus at the Harvard School of Public Health. SatelLife has used the satellite since it was launched to provide health information to physicians and hospitals throughout the world, primarily in Africa.

An agreement among SatelLife, VITA, and Wavix was completed earlier this year. SatelLife will be able to use both satellites to carry out its mission and is a collaborator with VITA in the plans to use the two satellite system for humanitarian and development purposes.

Holly Ladd, SatelLife's Executive Director, expressed her organization's enthusiastic support for the VITA/Wavix/SSTL agreement and said, "We look forward to our collaboration with VITA in carrying out humanitarian and development projects and enhancing the capacity of our sister organizations from both the developing and developed world to carry out theirs. We think the communicat

ions system now in place will be a major step forward." SSTL's Ward added, "We are very pleased that HealthSat-2, also of SSTL manufacture, will form part of the network."

Norman concluded, "This is the first part of a three part program which will include non-governmental organizations (NGOs) all over the world working closely together to develop an information culture in areas lacking communications.

The participation of information providers from universities and research institutes also will be sought. In the future we hope to add more satellites, gateways and terminals. We are also negotiating with commercial satellite communications companies to ensure that whatever the demand, it will be met. What has been called the revolution of inclusion is about to be accelerated."