Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

150
THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Government should not stifle private entrepreneurial initiatives absent sound and
compelling public policy reasons. Such initiatives should not be discouraged when the services
proposed could prove of value to customers, improve their productivity and efficiency,
and thus enable American firms to compete more effectively both at home and
abroad. The public policy case for continuing the status quo and flatly prohibiting additional
international satellite systems is weak. Simply the pendency of U.S. applications has
caused INTELSAT to accelerate plans for special business-oriented services and has precipitated
a beneficial review of competitive conditions in the international satellite field
generally. Further study and inevitable delay are unlikely to yield public dividends commensurate
with the economic costs imposed.
[52] It is the view of the Executive branch that the national interest will be furthered by
approving additional international communications satellite systems subject to limitations
designed to minimize adverse effects on INTELSAT. Specifically, additional systems
should be restricted to providing services through the sale or long-term lease of transponders
or space segment capacity for communications not interconnected with publicswitched
message networks (except for emergency restoration service). Consultation must
be undertaken with INTELSAT pursuant to Article XIV(d) of the Definitive Agreement.
[53] Appendix A
[54] THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 28, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
Presidential Determination
No. 85-2
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United
States, including Sections 102(d) and 201(a) of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962,
as amended (47 U.S.C. 701(d), 721 (a)), I hereby determine that separate international
communications satellite systems are required in the national interest. The United States,
in order to meet its obligations under the Agreement Establishing the International
Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) (TIAS 7532), shall consult with
INTELSAT regarding such separate systems as are authorized by the Federal
Communications Commission. You are directed jointly to inform the Federal
Communications Commission of criteria necessary to ensure the United States meets its
international obligations and to further its telecommunications and foreign policy interests.
This determination shall be published in the Federal Register.
[hand-signed: “Ronald Reagan”]