Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 75
program in the field of space telecommunications with that of the
Corporation so as to give maximum assurance of rapid and continuous scientific
and technological progress.
(b) The costs of the launch vehicles and launching and related services furnished by
the Administration under subparagraphs (a) (1) and (a) (2) above shall be reimbursed
by the Corporation as a credit to current appropriations of the Administration.
(c) The Administration is also authorized to furnish other services, on a reimbursable
basis, upon the request of the Corporation and as required for the successful development
and operation of the communications satellite system.
(d) The Corporation shall consult with the Administration, and coordinate its
research program, as provided in subparagraphs (a) (3) and (a) (4) above.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Sec. 405. (a) In regulating the Corporation as a communications common carrier under
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Commission shall [e]nsure—
(1) that the communications satellite system established by the Corporation is
technically compatible with and operationally interconnected with existing
communications facilities;
(2) that the rate structure established for the communications services offered by
the Corporation will provide a fair return on the capital invested in the
Corporation; and
(3) that there will be nondiscriminatory use of and equitable access to the system
by present and future authorized communications carriers.
[4] (b) The Commission is also authorized to—
(1) determine which United States communications common carriers shall be
eligible to participate in the ownership of the Corporation;
(2) approve the by-laws of the Corporation, or alterations thereto;
(3) require the Corporation to employ competitive bidding in the acquisition of
equipment used in the system, to the maximum extent feasible, so as to preserve
effective competition;
(4) require the Corporation to provide communications services in areas of the
world where it may be uneconomical, so as to make the system global in coverage
as soon as technically feasible; and
(5) require the Corporation to provide opportunities for foreign participation,
through ownership or otherwise, in the system, on an equitable basis, and on
reasonable terms.
COMPLETION OF ORGANIZATION OF THE CORPORATION
Sec. 406. (a) The President is authorized to take all steps necessary to organize the
Corporation described in Sec. 402 hereof, including but not limited to the following:
(1) obtaining a determination by the Commission as to which communications
common carriers shall be eligible to participate in the ownership of the
Corporation;
(2) obtaining commitments from such eligible common carriers as to the
amounts they will invest in the Corporation; and
(3) receiving nominations to the Board of Directors of the Corporation, as provided
for in Sec. 402 (f) hereof.
(b) The Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences and the House