Center controller described failed SAT phone contact event; allegedly because the FAA failed to pay the SAT phone bill; reported adding; this was not the first instance of inoperable SAT phones because of government non-payment.

Narrative

The Aircraft was coordinated on routing from a foreign Air Traffic Control Center to our Center; Oceanic to another foreign Air Traffic Control Center. On initial coordination from the first foreign Center; the controller advised that the aircraft had no HF radios; but was equipped with SAT Phone and provided our Center with the number. Our Center coordinated the fight with the next foreign ATC and relayed the information about the SAT Phone and the no HF radio status of the flight. ATC requested that our Center reroute the flight. We copied the reroute and attempted to contact the flight. Our Center Controller attempted to call the flight using our SAT Phone; he was unsuccessful. The on-duty Supervisor attempted to use the SAT Phone; so the Controller could focus on his other aircraft. After several minutes the Supervisor approached the Controller working the flight and informed him that the reason he was unable to contact the flight was that the FAA had failed once again to pay the SAT Phone bill. This is at least the third time this has occurred over the last several years.