Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 57
Our estimates of costs and traffic volumes lead us to the conclusion that a satellite system
such as we propose is economically feasible. We are prepared to move ahead as rapidly
as possible and it is important that we be permitted to do so, not only to meet the service
requirements for the near future but also to make sure that this country will lead the way
in international space communications for peaceful purposes.
Ownership of the facilities involved could be handled in the traditional way. The foreign
terminals would be owned by the foreign telecommunication agencies. We have had
many years of mutually satisfactory operating experience with these agencies all over the
world and are completely confident that we can come to an equitable arrangement with
them concerning the ownership and use of the satellites.
Use of the United States portion of the satellite system would be made available, of
course, to all international communications carriers serving the United States for any services
they now are, or may in the future be, authorized to provide by the FCC under the
Communications Act. Here, too, the facilities would be made available on an equitable
basis either by ownership participation through pro rata payment of capital investment
and operating expenses or by lease arrangements. These arrangements would preserve
competition in the international communications field to the extent that it is determined
by the FCC to be in the public interest.
We believe the low-orbit system proposed by AT&T is the preferred system at this time.
The technology is well advanced for the low-orbit satellite. On the other hand, there are
drawbacks [3] to the synchronous high-altitude satellite. To begin with, there is a .6 second
round-trip delay which would be a very serious degradation of telephone service.
Further, there are the very difficult problems of placing the high-altitude satellite in proper
orbit, maintaining it on the station, stabilizing and accurately pointing its directional
antenna. The solution to these latter problems is at a minimum several years away and it’s
imperative to get on with the job now—not years hence.
The producers of electronic gear and other products and services would benefit from
the introduction of this new mode of communications which will broaden their markets.
A substantial part of the ground station equipment and many of the components of the
satellites themselves will be obtained on a competitive basis from industrial suppliers.
Rockets and launching facilities will be provided by private suppliers under appropriate
arrangements with the Government.
As stated at the outset, we believe that the questions to which the Commission is seeking
the answers in this proceeding are essentially technical in character, and they must be
answered promptly if the United States is to maintain its leadership in the communications
field. The purpose of this letter is to provide information which may be helpful to
the FCC as it considers policy decision vital to the vigorous advancement of the nation’s
space communications program.
Very truly yours,
“J.E. Dingman” [hand-signed]