These two new Satellite Mutual Aid Radio Talkgroups (SMART), named National Public Health Satellite Talkgroups (NPHST), join SkyTerra's family of nationwide and regionally-focused talkgroups, administered by SkyTerra and managed and controlled by the organizing federal, state, local or tribal agency.

The NPHST talkgroups will enable critical and interoperable communications at all levels of public health and medical agencies. These talkgroups represent a major step forward in public health and medical interoperability, particularly when terrestrial networks are damaged or congested.

The Kentucky DPH has designated NPHST-1 to be available exclusively to state/territorial health departments and is limited to two SkyTerra devices in each jurisdiction in order to efficiently communicate with the nation's public health command and control system.

Additionally, a second nationwide talkgroup, NPHST-2, is available to all SkyTerra devices operated by state and county health departments, public health agencies, or medical facilities in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands.

Both of these talkgroups are managed by the Communications Coordinator of the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Department for Public Health in Frankfort, Kentucky, and will be used primarily for communications interoperability when SkyTerra users from various public health and medical organizations find themselves working together on a national or localized event or emergency.

"The Department for Public Health is excited about the partnership with SkyTerra to offer this national interoperability solution for public health," said Drew Chandler, IT and communications manager for the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

"While not traditionally viewed as a response agency, we must be able to communicate in order to provide essential services. This is especially true during emergencies because the ability to perform has a direct impact on the health and well-being of our citizens."

"These satellite talkgroups arm public health organizations and medical facilities across the country with a powerful communications tool enabling improved multi-agency interoperability and facilitating rapid response in the event of health or medical emergencies," said Jim Corry, vice president of Government Solutions for SkyTerra.

"These talkgroups serve as an important supplement to existing communications networks at all levels of the public health system throughout the nation."

All public health organizations with active accounts on the SkyTerra network are eligible and encouraged to join these talkgroups at no charge by way of application to the Kentucky DPH. A copy of the Standard Operating Procedures and application are available at [email protected] or by calling (502) 330-9682.

SkyTerra is developing an integrated satellite-terrestrial communications network, based on SkyTerra'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.

SkyTerra plans to launch two of the most powerful commercial satellites ever built that will enable this network to support communications in a variety of market segments 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.

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