[Satellite TODAY 10-02-10] The U.S. Coast Guard selected KVH Industries to supply its TracPhone V7 satellite communication system and the mini-VSAT Broadband service to its small cutter fleet, KVH announced Sept. 30.
    Under the 10-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, valued at $42 million, KVH will support the Coast Guard’s Small Cutter Connectivity (SCC) Ku-band system and Air Time Support Services solution. The Coast Guard Telecommunications and Information Systems Command will deploy these services over a three- to five-year period aboard as many as 216 small cutters representing 16 different cutter classes.
    The SCC program is part of a Coast Guard initiative to upgrade the legacy cutter fleet’s commercial satellite systems from Inmarsat to Ku-band in order to provide improved military communication capabilities for voice and data transmission and reception as well as improving interoperability with U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Defense partners.
    Following the award, KVH received the first task order from the Coast Guard to begin program implementation immediately. KVH will be supported by network partner ViaSat and logistics partner Mackay Communications.