Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

tems. Diversion of Government traffic from the carriers will further jeopardize the future
viability of ComSat and the global system.
j. [bolded passages were highlighted with a marker in the original] Communication
satellites are in such an early stage of their technological and systems development that
present systems should soon be made obsolete by the new developments. But research and
development efforts by ComSat and NASA are inadequate to push progress fast enough.
I am increasing the efforts of my office to push for faster progress.
The national policy established by the President and Congress is to give first priority
to the successful achievement of a single international global system at the earliest time.
It is a sound policy which makes paramount the objectives of world peace and understanding.
The importance of the single global system to achieve these objectives cannot
be overemphasized. Executive Branch departments are working diligently to reduce the
hazards and obtain the objectives sought by the Communications Satellite Act, but success
is far from certain yet. The trend appears to be toward progressively more serious obstacles.
Further discussion of these obstacles is contained in the attachment.
In a subsequent report I will set forth the steps being taken by my office and other
government agencies to cope with these hazards. Some of my proposals for Government
actions are included in the attached summary.
[i]
SUMMARY
**********
J. D. O’Connell
A Global System of Satellite Communications
— The Hazards Ahead —
The hazards to the future success of the International Consortium (INTELSAT) and
ComSat appear to be increasing and becoming more serious. Knowledgeable students of
the situation are privately expressing the thought that [bolded passages were highlighted
with a marker in the original] it is entirely possible that INTELSAT may fall apart in favor
of a series of regional systems.
If this were to occur it would mean:
• A massive setback in future growth and easy access in international telecommunications.
• The loss of the soundest, simplest, lowest cost system of international telecommunication
which can make the largest contribution to world peace and understanding.
• A reversion to reactionary concepts of rich nation domination of zones of communication
influence, increased length and lower quality of transmission paths,
and higher consumer costs.
• A very serious prestige loss to the United States.
• Financial loss to the shareholders of ComSat.
The most serious threats to INTELSAT and ComSat which are described in the following
pages have not yet reached critical or unmanageable stage. But over optimism, lack
of vigorous action, or actions which aggravate these trends can cause these problems to
rapidly get beyond control.
ACTIONS UNDER WAY
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 101