Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

No additional items were reviewed. Dr. Byerly requested a two page programmatic
description of the ACTS program.
Document I-30
John J. Madison
Legislative Affairs Specialist
Document title: William Schneider, Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance,
Science, and Technology, and David J. Markey, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information, “A White Paper on New International Satellite
Systems,” Senior Interagency Group on International Communication and Information
Policy, February 1985.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
This report sets forth the reasoning behind the November 28, 1984, determination by President
Ronald Reagan that “separate international communications satellite systems are required in the
national interest.” (A copy of the determination is included in the excerpts from this report.) This decision
marked the end of an era during which it was U.S. policy to protect the position of INTELSAT
as the only provider of global point-to-point communications via satellite.
A White Paper on New International Satellite Systems
Senior Interagency Group
on International Communication
and Information Policy
William Schneider, Jr. David J. Markey
Under Secretary for Security Assistant Secretary for
Assistance, Science, and Technology Communications and Information
U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of Commerce
February 1985
[1] Introduction
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 147
Since 1983, several U.S. firms have filed applications with the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to establish international communications satellite
systems in addition to the global system owned by the [International] Telecommunications
Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Orion Satellite Corporation, International
Satellite, Inc. (ISI), and Cygnus Corporation propose new transatlantic communications
systems, and RCA American Communications, Inc. (RCA) has applied to use capacity on
a U.S. domestic satellite to provide international service. Pan American Satellite
Corporation (PanAmSat) proposes to establish a system which would serve Latin America.
In addition to existing and planned regional satellite systems independent of INTELSAT,
other transoceanic satellite systems are under consideration abroad. Approved and proposed
transatlantic submarine cable communications facilities, many of which are actually
or potentially competitive with INTELSAT, are pending as well.