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Keystone Communications Corp. announced it has leased three additional C-band transponders aboard the Galaxy 4 spacecraft to expand its occasional-use C-band transponder capacity by 50 percent. The new transponders will support syndication, sports and other broadcast applications, Keystone said. The com pany already leases other transponders aboard Galaxy 4, as well as transponders aboard Galaxy...

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) elected Patricia Ruggieri, Sony Electronics Inc.’s national marketing manager-DSS products, as chairwoman-reception systems segment of its manufacturer’s commit tee. SBCA also named Ruggieri to its board of directors. As chairwoman of SBCA’s reception systems segment, Ruggieri will represent 30 DTH and consumer electronics manufacturers. (Sony, 201/930-6433.)

DBS subscribership increased by 83.7 percent, or 2 million new subscribers, in 1996, according to newly released figures from the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association. There are now more than 4 million DBS households in the United States, with average growth of 7,200 users per day. Including large-dish C-band subscribers, the direct-to-home industry now totals...

Echostar Communications Corp. [DISH] released its latest settop box on Jan. 8, and plans to begin retailing the new unit in February for $499. The receiver, dubbed Echostar 5000, features an on-screen program guide as well as the ability to display caller ID messages on-screen for those consumers who purchase the service from their local...

The U.S. Air Force last month narrowed to two the field of companies vying for the right to develop the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV). Following a 15-month process, Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] and McDonnell Douglas Corp. [MD] each won $60 million contracts to continue the preliminary work they have done to develop EELV concepts....

Telecommunications executives now can receive daily business news and analysis at COMMUNICATIONS TODAY (www.CommToday.com), a new online news and information service launched TODAY, by Phillips Business Information, Inc. The web site, which is free for the first 45 days, covers the wireless, wireline, satellite, and cable marketplaces as well as provides access to a searchable...

SSE Telecom Inc. [SSET] has named Tom Breeden vice president, business development. He previously served as vice president and general manager of SSE DataCom. (SSE Telecom, 47823 Westinghouse Drive, Fremont, CA 94539, 510/657-7552.)

Globalstar L.P. [GSTRF] announced last week it had awarded Government Systems Inc. a five-year, $15 million network services contract to provide end- to-end managed data services for the Globalstar Data Network (GDN). The GDN, a central component of Globalstar’s command and control infrastructure, will link the Big LEO’s worldwide system of gateways with Globalstar’s ground...

Hughes Communications Inc. [GMH] has upgraded its web site, introducing new customer service and information resources. One new section includes the bi annual Sun outages that can impact every satellite customer. The site can be reached at: http://www.hcisat.com. On another Internet note, Arianespace announced late last month that it has launched its new web site....

Alexandria, Va.-based Institute of Navigation’s (ION) National Technical Meeting will be Jan. 14-16 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. Topics include the Wide Area Augmentation System, Local Area Augmentation System, Inertial and Integrated Navigation Systems, GLONASS update and international developments. (Lisa Beatty, ION, 703/683-7101.)