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The first and most important application for communication satellites is in international telecommunications. Fixed-point telephones relay calls to an earth station, where they are then transmitted to a geostationary satellite. An equivalent path is then followed on the downlink. In contrast, mobile telephones, e.g. to and from ships and airplanes, must be directly connected to equipment to uplink the signal to the satellite, as well as being able to ensure satellite pointing in the presence of disturbances, such as sea movement. Common Carrier satellite communications services are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission under title II of the Communications Act.
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