Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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communications satellite capability should require satisfactory assurance that the assistance
furnished will be used only within the framework of agreements and arrangements
to which the United States is a participant and will not be transmitted or transferred to a
third nation without prior U.S. authorization. No agreement [handwritten highlighting in
the margin through the end of this paragraph] should be concluded with any nation until
information has been made known to other allied nations concerning the U.S. willingness
to cooperate in meeting other nations’ national security needs which are similar to ours.
7. U.S. firms are required to comply with Munitions Control licensing procedure
prior to communication satellite or related technology, transferring equipment or components
as embraced by the United States Munitions List, [handwritten underlining]
including booster technology and launch services, to foreign nations or firms.
8. U.S. firms are also required to comply with the Department of Commerce’s
export licensing requirements prior to communicating or transferring to foreign nations
or firms certain other relevant technology, equipment or components, not covered by the
U.S. Munitions List.
9. All transactions approved under paragraphs 7 and 8 involving technology and
assistance pertaining to complete communications satellites or a significant portion thereof,
and to provision of launching services or launch vehicles for communications satellites
should be conditioned upon express (written) assurances to this government by the foreign
nation(s). The assurances should be that technology and assistance obtained will be
used only within the framework of the existing international consortium agreements for
a single global system or the framework of such special agreements as are referred to in
paragraph 6 above and will not be transmitted or transferred to a third nation without
prior U.S. authorization.
[page 5] 10.The principles and policy set forth in this document should be reviewed and
updated as communications satellite system developments progress and definitive requirements
are determined and after the global commercial communications satellite system
has been established and is in substantial use.
POLICY:
THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Therefore, in keeping with the above, it is the United States policy to:
1. Promote the prompt establishment and successful operation of a single global
common carrier and public service communications satellite system in cooperation with
other nations as part of an improved global communications network which will provide
expanded telecommunications services and which will contribute to world peace and
understanding.
2. Avoid measures which would adversely affect either the continued expansion of
participation in the existing international agreement for a single global commercial communications
satellite system or acceptability of the basic premises of the present agreements
on a permanent basis.
3. Make use of commercial communications facilities for general governmental purposes
wherever commercial circuits of the type and quality needed to meet government
requirements can be made available on a timely basis and in accordance with applicable
tariff or, in the absence of Federal Communications Commission jurisdiction, at reasonable
cost. Establish and maintain separate satellite communications facilities including
ground terminals with capacity limited to that necessary to meet those unique and vital
national security needs which cannot be met by commercial facilities. The capacity of
these separate facilities shall at all times be limited to that essential to meet such unique
needs.
[page 6] 4. Encourage selected allied nations to use the U.S. national defense communi-