Westlake Village-based Row 44 Inc. received a permanent operating license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for its satellite-based in-flight Wi-Fi service. The license, along with a license granted to Row 44 in Canada and right to operate agreement in Mexico, allow the company to provide uninterrupted airborne Internet service throughout the North American continent. North American regulators do not currently permit in-flight mobile phone calls or SMS text messaging. But the Row 44 system will support these services and the company intends to offer the latter wherever they are permitted and requested by airlines. Founded in 2004, Row 44’s broadband solution is supported by the global infrastructure of Hughes, which has shipped more than 1.9 million broadband satellite terminals to customers in over 100 countries. Eric Billingsley
