Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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the first Agreement and the Communications Satellite Corporation (ComSat), the
telecommunications entity designated by the U.S. Government, is a signatory of the second
(Special) Agreement. Pursuant to these two Agreements, opened for signature on
August 20, 1964, the cooperating member countries brought into existence the
International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (INTELSAT), which now has
68 member countries.
Pursuant to Article IX of the Interim Agreement, the governing body of INTELSAT—
the Interim Communications Satellite Committee (ICUS)—produced a report containing
the Committee’s recommendations, and other shades of opinion, on definitive arrangements
for the organization. This report was issued to all INTELSAT member Governments
on December 31, 1968.
Under other terms of Article IX the United States was obligated to convene a plenipotentiary
conference to consider the ICUS Report within 90 days of the date it was issued.
In compliance with this obligation, the United States convened the Plenipotentiary
Conference on Definitive Arrangements for the International Telecommunications
Satellite Consortium in Washington on February 24, 1969. After four weeks of work, the
Conference recessed its first session on March 21, 1969. This report covers that session.
II. Agenda of the Conference
As adopted, the agenda provided for:
THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
1. Election of the Chairman
2. Adoption of the Agenda
[3] 3. Adoption of Conference Rules of Procedure
4. Election of other Officers
5. Organization of the Conference
A. Credentials Committee
B. Editorial Committee
C. Working Committees
6. Report of the Credentials Committee
7. Consideration of the report and recommendations of the Interim
Communications Satellite Committee and of definitive arrangements for the
International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium
8. Signing of definitive arrangements
The Conference followed this agenda, completing items 1–6, including adoption
unanimously of the rules of procedure, established its work program, and proceeded in
working committees to consider the wide variety of proposals contained in the ICUS
report, as well as other proposals introduced during the Conference. It did not complete
consideration of item 7, the substantive business of the Conference, and, of course, did
not reach item 8, signing of agreements.
III. Participation
Sixty-seven of the sixty-eight members of INTELSAT registered at the Conference.
They were Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Ceylon, Chile,
China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece,
Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco,
Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama,
Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Republic of South Africa, Spain,
Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania,
Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Republic, United Kingdom, United