U.S. Government Interested In Seeing Iridium Salvaged

Participants in the seven-month U.S. government review of Motorola's deorbit plan for Iridium include the White House science office, Justice Department, NASA, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and security and economic officials has been working with Iridium and its partners on various issues. The White House and the FCC have been trying to convince Motorola Corp. to keep the satellite network in orbit. An anonomyous official commented, "The government is not intending to take this thing over, but is hopeful a successful sale could be achieved and is trying to assist the parties wherever appropriate." Another source said U.S. officials hope the mutlibillion dollar system can be put to some other productive use and would assist any efforts to avert the destruction of the system.

The FCC is pushing Motorola to salvage the Iridium constellation by selling the 72 satellites. "We were trying for some time to have Motorola keep an open mind about selling (the constellation), because it's a valuable commercial resource," said a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We've been talking to various agencies going back at least to March," Motorola spokesman Scott Wyman said, but declined to talk about details of the company's discussions with federal agencies.

The FCC declined to comment on its interest in seeing the satellites sold to another company so they remain in operation, but Iridium officials have said the federal agency has tried to convince Motorola to work out details of an agreement to transfer operations to Boeing. A main sticking point is whether the new owner would offer full indemnification protection for Motorola. Boeing would act as a subcontractor for an unnamed buyer and operate the satellites, but will not take a stake in the satellite network. Boeing declined to name the company it's working with. "We are continuing to support that company in its pursuit of the Iridium assets," said Boeing Space and Communications spokeswoman Anne Eisele.

Some of the discussions between Motorola and federal agencies, including the FAA and NASA, have been about the company's plan to destroy the satellites. Other agencies of the U.S. government that have been in contact with Motorola during its voluntary effort to share details of its deorbiting plan have expressed concern that the satellites will be destroyed. "The government was hopeful a successful sale could be achieved and the satellites could be used. We're trying to assist parties involved in any way we can," said U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Chris Watney. Motorola has had approval since March from the  U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan to destroy the satellites.
  

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