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Technology and Political Change: The Public Interest Impact of COMSAT

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2009

Thomas P. Murphy
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Extract

The rapid technological change which the United States has experienced in the postwar era is now forcing a realignment between industry and the Federal Government. Traditional systems of interaction between the public and private sectors, including the various regulatory systems, are in need of reexamination in light of the new relationships. Different patterns of organization and governmental participation will need to be developed in several areas. Granting that the scope of projects such as going to the moon, building a supersonic transport or developing a world-wide communication satellite system requires governmental investment, on what basis can the government protect its investment and insure that the corporations are not profiting unduly at the expense of the individual taxpayer?

Type
Research Article
Information
The Review of Politics , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , July 1971 , pp. 405 - 424
Copyright
Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1971

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References

1 Communication Act of 1934, Public Law 73–416, June 19, 1934 (48 Stat. 1064).

2 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Astronautics, Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications, Assessment of Space Communications Technology, 91st Congress, Report No. 91–859, March 3, 1970, p. 1.

3 National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85–568, Section 102 (72 Stat. 426).

4 U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Staff Report, Committee Print, Policy Planning for Space Communication, 86th Congress, 2nd Session, December 4, 1960.

5 Eisenhower, Dwight D., Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, 1960–61, Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1961, pp. 889–890Google Scholar.

6 Kennedy, John F., Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, 1961, Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1962, p. 530Google Scholar.

7 Communications Satellite Act of 1962, Public Law 87–624, August 31, 1962 (76Stat. 419).

8 U.S. Congress, Congressional Record, 87th Congress, May 3, 1962, p. 7713.

9 Ibid., pp. 16854–16926.

10 Ibid.

11 “COMSAT, AT&T in Bitter Dispute Over Satellites v. Cables,” Congressional Quarterly, March 15, 1968, p. 537; Authorized Entities and Users— Communications Satellites Act of 1962, July 20, 1966 (4 F.C.C. 2nd 521) pp. 421–436.

12 “COMSAT, AT&T in Bitter Dispute Over Satellites v. Cables,” p. 537.

13 Ibid., ITT World Communications, Inc., February 1, 1967 (6 F.C.C. 2nd 511) pp. 511–514.

14 “COMSAT, AT&T in Bitter Dispute Over Satellites v. Cables,” p. 537; Ownership and Operation — Earth Stations, December 7, 1966 (5 F.C.C. 2nd 812) pp. 812–822.

15 “COMSAT, AT&T in Bitter Dispute Over Satellites v. Cables,” p. 537; AT&T/TAT-5 Project, February 18, 1968 (11 F.C.C. 2nd 957) pp. 957–958.

16 Johnsen, K., “Satellite – Cable Dispute Emerges in F.C.C.,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 03 11, 1968, p. 27Google Scholar; AT&T/TAT-5 Project, February 18, 1968, (11 F.C.C. 2nd 957) p. 963.

17 “COMSAT, AT&T in Bitter Dispute Over Satellites v. Cables,” p. 538; AT&T/TAT-5 Project, February 18, 1968 (11 F.C.C. 2nd 957) p. 958.

18 American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Comments of American Telephone and Telegraph Company Before the Federal Communications Commission, Docket No. 18875, 08 19, 1970, p. 3Google Scholar.

19 Communications Satellite Corporation, Comments of Communications Satellite Corporation Before the Federal Communications Commission, Docket No. 18875, 09 14, 1970, p. 16Google Scholar.

20 U.S. Congress, Message From the President of the United States, House of Representatives, House Document No. 157, 90th Congress, 1st Session, p. 5Google Scholar.

21 Ibid., p. 8.

22 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Astronautics, Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications, Hearings, Assessment of Space Communications Technology, 91st Congress, 12, 1969, pp. 32–38Google Scholar; or President's Task Force on Communications Policy, Final Report, 12 7, 1968, p. 20Google Scholar.

23 The International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (INTELSAT) was created in 1964 and has a membership of 80 nations. INTELSAT was organized to develop a worldwide communications satellite system and is based on an international agreement to which the United States is a party. INTELSAT limits its activity to operations in space and does not concern itself directly with ground stations in the various countries. President's Task Force on Communications Policy, Final Report, pp. 6–20Google Scholar.

24 Ibid., p. 14.

25 Ibid., pp. 38–46.

26 Ibid., pp. 47–48.

27 Ibid.

28 President's Task Force on Communications Policy, “Statement of Partial Dissent by General J. D. O'Connell,” Appendix Tab. B, pp. 1–15Google Scholar.

29 President's Task Force, “Final Report,” pp. 32–34.

30 Ibid., pp. 35–36.

31 Ibid., Tab. B, p. 8.

32 Ibid., p. 18.

34 “Editorial,” Wall Street Journal, 08 2, 1966Google Scholar.

34 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Astronautics, op. cit., Report No. 91–859, pp. 18–19Google Scholar.

35 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Astronautics, Report No. 91–859, p. 20; Gould, Jack, “Stanton to Urge a Private System of TV Satellites,” New York Times, 10 15, 1969Google Scholar.

36 Ibid.; Gould, Jack, “AT&T Backs Private Communications Satellites,” New York Times, 10 16, 1969Google Scholar; Gould, Jack, “COMSAT Advances Satellite TV Plan,” New York Times, 10 19, 1969Google Scholar.

37 “Administration's Recommended Policy on Satellite Communication,” New York Times, January 24, 1970, p. 51.

38 Ibid.; “Communications Satellites for Domestic Telecommunications Service — January 23, 1970,” Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Week ending January 24, 1970, p. 66.

39 “Telecommunications Reorganization — The President's Message to the Congress Transmitting Reorganization Plan 1 of 1970, February 9, 1970,” Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Week ending February 14, 1970, pp. 156–158; Lydon, Christopher, “Nixon Asks for an Office on Communications Policy,” New York Times, 02 10, 1970, p. 25Google Scholar.

40 Ibid.

41 Economic Report of the President, January, 1970, p. 109.

42 U.S. Congress, House of Representatives, Committee on Science and Astronautics, Subcommittee of Space Science and Applications, Assessment of Space Communications Technology, 91st Congress, 1st Session, 02 3, 1970, p. 33Google Scholar.