Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

60
THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
pany before the Federal Communications Commission in connection with, as the questioner
put it, your “being interested in the $170 million program to put up their (your)
own satellites.” The direct question was whether I “had any indication that AT&T has
taken a new look at the desirability of this.”
[5] Although the conversation Dr. Dryden and I had with Dr. Fisk and Mr. Dingman was
of quite a general and exploratory nature and was in no way a negotiation or even delineation
of official positions, I did get the impression that your company was making a very
thorough examination, doing some real soul-searching, and I so stated in my remarks at
the bottom of page 12. If this is not correct, I will appreciate your advice.
I agree completely that we should sit down and straighten out any misunderstandings
that may have arisen. If you believe our public statements do not fairly represent the position
of your company, I will be more than happy to take any steps necessary to make the
real facts clear.
Enclosure
A:Webb:ns
N
cc: Dr. Dryden
Mr. Nunn
Mr. Phillips
BAC
Document I-11
Sincerely yours,
James E. Webb
Administrator
Document title: John F. Kennedy to Honorable Newton Minow, Chairman, Federal
Communications Commission, May 15, 1961.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, History Office, NASA Headquarters,
Washington, D.C.
During his first State of the Union address on January 30, 1961, President Kennedy had called for
an international effort to develop communications satellites. Four months later, he reiterated this position
while considering a sweeping acceleration of the U.S. space program.
Dear Mr. Chairman:
May 15, 1961
I am most interested in having facilitated early development of communication satellites
and will appreciate prompt determination by the Federal Communications Commission,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other appropriate agencies of
the conditions and safeguards under which that can go forward. Subject to establishing
the necessary precautions, I am hopeful that the public and private resources of our free
society can be brought to bear for significant and early research progress in this field, and,