Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

quality of services and charges for such services.
THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF AUGUST 20, 1964—55 NATIONS
Desiring to establish a single global commercial communication satellite system as
part of an improved global communications network which will provide expanded
telecommunications services to all areas of the world and which will contribute to world
peace and understanding;
[2] Determined, to this end, to provide, through the most advanced technology available,
for the benefit of all nations of the world, the most efficient and economical service possible
consistent with the best and most equitable use of the radio spectrum.
BASIS
The single global system is truly a revolutionary concept. It is also intrinsically sound
from the viewpoint of supporting the policy objectives established by the Congress and
confirmed in our international agreements.
USE OF COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD
PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVED WORLD TRADE, AND COMMERCE
The integrity of the global system is vital to our primary goal of using satellite technology
to promote world peace and understanding, and to our corollary goals of
improved world trade, commerce, and better understanding between nations. We must
nurture this global system concept, [bolded passages were highlighted with a marker in
the original] for if we allow it to deteriorate into a series of isolated regional networks we
may forever lose the golden opportunity which satellite technology provides for creating
a world community in which communications flow freely between nations.
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS OF LESS DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES
The single commercial communications satellite system provides the broadly based
structure to meeting the demands of the smaller nations. Further, it provides a framework
in which the United States can work effectively to promote communications satellite technology
designed to aid the developing nations.
EFFECTIVE USE OF THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
The demands for communications satellite service already promise to overtax the
capability of the frequency spectrum. Only through the economies of scale and engineering
efficiency of a truly global system will all of the nations of the world be able to
gain equal benefits from communications satellite technology.
[3] THE HAZARDS AHEAD
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 103
These are fundamental problems in the field of satellite communications which have
national importance and which can profoundly affect the economic, social, and political
objectives of this Nation. These problems arise from many sources but may be generally
categorized as follows:
1. Interests that conflict with the global system;