Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 43
[1]
PUBLIC-G, 1627 March 14, 1961
FCC Relation to Space Communication
GENERAL
The Federal Communications Commission activities in connection with space communication
have increased greatly because of the many new and unique problems posed
by rapid technological and scientific developments in this field.
Although the Commission is not responsible for any over-all space program or any
particular space vehicle launching project, the mounting activity in space communication
has an impact on its regulation of non-Government radio users. This stems from its obligations
under the Communications Act which, among other things, requires the FCC to
“study new uses for radio, provide for experimental uses of frequencies, and generally
encourage the larger and more effective use of radio in the public interest” as well as to
“make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States a rapid, efficient,
Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service.”
This involves the allocation and assignment of frequencies for space communication
and the authorization of privately conducted research and experimentation looking
toward the use of natural or man-made satellites to provide civil communication services
on a regular basis. Radio signals “bounced” or relayed from such satellites would permit
the transmission of large amounts of telephone, telegraph and other traffic, including
television, over great distances. Such developments present a new and complex array of
technical problems. Not the least of these is finding suitable and sufficient frequencies
and insuring compatibility between space communication systems and surface systems so
that the public interest will best be served. Many regulatory problems will flow from
adding space communication to radio’s already manifold uses.
COORDINATION AND COOPERATION
The achievement of these purposes involves both national and international considerations.
Consequently, the Commission is working closely with the interests involved.
This coordination and cooperation requires particularly close relationship by the FCC
with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which directs the
Nation’s non-military space effort. On February 28, 1961, the FCC and NASA announced
a joint “memorandum of understanding” for delineating and coordinating their respective
responsibilities in civil communication space activities.
[2] Other interagency activities include FCC participation in the following:
The Telecommunication Coordinating Committee (TCC) [all underlining is
handwritten] of the Department of State, which has an ad hoc working group
under the chairmanship of FCC Commissioner T.A.M. Craven to draft foreign
policy recommendations on space communication systems;
The Telecommunication Planning Committee (TPC) which advises the
Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization (OCDM), with FCC representation on
space study panels;
The FCC and the OCDM have joint responsibility for national frequency allocations,
with staff work through joint meetings of FCC representatives with the
Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) and its Subcommittee on
Frequency Allocations (SFA);