Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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THE HISTORY OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
satellite systems are being examined.
The present status of the communication satellite programs, both military and civil, is
that of research and development. Neither the arrangements between government and
industry for research and development [3] nor the government participation as to preparation
of a plan or plans for ownership and operation of a commercial system have contained
any commitments as to the operational system.
A communications system using satellites is made up of a number of interconnected
parts, of which the satellites are but one part. The full system includes message origination
facilities, ground sending stations, ground receiving stations, and message delivery facilities—in
addition to the satellites used for continuous receipt and relay of messages. We
already have an elaborate communications system between the United States and some
parts of the world. Communication satellites must be integrated into the existing system.
Adding communication satellites to this system would permit substantially increasing the
coverage, increasing the capacity for communication, and enabling television and high
speed data, as well as voice and record, to be transmitted and received over great distances.
Problems
As a matter of progressive action, the central question is how to move from a research
and development status to an operational status in which the newly emerging technology
may be utilized in the public interest.
[4] There are two principal problem areas: one having to do with continuing to advance
the state of the art on an accelerated basis and the technical selection of the specifications
of an initial operational system; the other having to do with organization and the mode of
operation best suited to accommodate the wide range of public interests involved.
Policy
Following are major objectives and policy guidelines for the proper handling of those
problems:
1. Time: Operational satellites should become a part of the means of long distance
communication at the earliest practicable time and this should be achieved through the
leadership of the United States. This means acceleration of effort in research and development,
in plans for operation and management, and in cooperative negotiations with
other countries.
2. Ownership: There is a wide variety of types, methods, and procedures for the ownership
of the U.S. portion of the system. The type of ownership should be that which gives
the greatest assurance that the public interest will be best served. Any ownership plan
which promises less would be contrary to policy. [5] The type and nature of ownership
should not be decided, however, until recommendations submitted by private enterprise
have been evaluated by the appropriate agencies of the government to determine whether
they meet the policy requirements. If these policy requirements are met, the government
will encourage private enterprise to establish and operate a system. This should be decided
as soon as practicable in order to maximize the level of national effort.
In addition to the other policy statements in this document, the following criteria and
principles should be employed in evaluating recommendations for private ownership of
the U.S. portion of the system:
a. non-discriminatory use of and equitable access to the system by present and
future communications carriers;
b. effective competition, such as competitive bidding, in furnishing equipment
purchased, leased, or otherwise acquired from non-U.S. government sources;
c. full compliance with antitrust legislation and with the regulation of rates,