Satellite Networks &
Architectures Branch

A joint Industry/Government/Academia group effort has been undertaken through a variety of means to define the role of communications satellites in the national and global information infrastructures.

Defining The Role Of Communications Satellites In The Information Infrastructure

Early in 1995, a Satellite Industry Task Force (SITF) was initiated by executives of the satellite industry to define the role for communications satellites in the National and Global Information Infrastructures (NII/GII). Satellites are essential to the NII/GII since they offer ubiquitous coverage and less time to market. The SITF was chaired by Dr. Thomas Brackey of the Hughes Space and Communications Division and grew out of a series of workshops held during the summer of 1994 by the communications industry, NASA, and DISA. Experts were convened from twenty companies representing satellite and terrestrial network builders, operators, and users. For eight months they worked to identify challenges for the satellite industry to play a pivotal role in the NII/GII. NASA personnel participated in the SITF's meetings to contribute on technical and policy matters.

After significant data collection and analysis on various issues, the SITF participants reached a consensus on five key challenges. Three of the challenges are policy-related:

1. Access to Spectrum
2. Trade and Security
3. Access to Market

The remaining two are technical:

1. Seamless Interoperability
2. Technology Advancement

The SITF also provided recommendations for various actions to be taken by the U.S. government and industry to meet these challenges.

The SITF findings were presented to U.S. Vice President Al Gore during the White House Forum of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on September 12, 1995, as part of the U.S. government's efforts to promote the National and Global Information Infrastructures. This meeting was attended by NASA Administrator Daniel Golden and senior executives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Defense, Justice Department, and other U.S. agencies, as well as high level executives representing the twenty member companies of the SITF.

Executive Summary

Opportunities For A Superior NII/GII The Satellite Element

Introduction

The U.S. satellite industry is committed to achieving a superior National Information Infrastructure/Global Information Infrastructure (NII/GII) that is a rich mix of satellite and terrestrial elements. However, the continued role of satellites is not guaranteed due to various technological and regulatory barriers. Our ad hoc Satellite Industry Task Force has identified several areas that must be addressed in order to ensure that satellites become an integral part of the Administration's NII/GII vision and build upon its five principal tenets: open access, universal service, competition, flexible regulatory enivronment, and private investment.

In addition, the Task Force embraces a partnership with Government, academia, and the user community. We also welcome a designated Government executive to be our champion for satellite-related issues. Together, we are dedicated to seizing these opportunities by supporting the following actions for a superior NII/GII:

1. Maintain the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and NTIA and continue streamlining its regulatory processes without auctioning spectrum for international satellites.
2. Establish Government trade and security policies to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. satellite industry.
3. Placing increased U.S. Government emphasis on eliminating foreign market access barriers.
4. Facilitate interoperable standards and protocol development in industry association.
5. Continue Government investment in precompetitive technology.

Opportunities For A Superior NII/GII

Today we are in the midst of a revolution in global information communication networks that will fundamentally change society. In his Von Braun lecture on March 22, 1995, Dr. John Gibbons predicted that "Satellites ... will play a critical role in this revolution. They will provide affordable links to the global network from the most remote corners of the planet. And they will link existing terrestrial networks as well."

The natural advantages of satellites - cost-effectiveness, ubiquitous coverage, mobile user access, cost insensitivity to distance, and resiliency to catastrophes and disasters - are indispensable to the success of our nation's and the world's information infrastructure.

Driven by 35 years of continuous technological innovation since the arrival of satellite communications, in 1994 the industry's revenue grew 23% to reach $6.49 billion.

Yet the role of satellites in the NII/GII and the continued growth and technological leadership of the U.S. satellite industry are at risk. To ensure the satellite's role and our industry's leadership, we identified the following opportunities to create a superior information infrastructure:

1. Flexible regulatory environment - The Task Force recommends retaining the FCC and NTIA. The Task Force applauds the recent improvements in the spectrum allocation, orbital slot assignment, and system licensing processes; and recommends the streamlining of the regulatory processes. The satellite industry believes that spectrum auctions are inappropriate for licensing satellite systems, that they threaten the growth and competitiveness of the satellite industry, and are inconsistent with the goal of affordable universal service.
2. Competition - Government policy must facilitate competitiveness. Yet current Government policies on foreign trade and national security restrictions inhibit fair competition. We need Government policies that reduce export restrictions, continue access to foreign launch services, and remove restrictions on technology available from foreign sources. Particular recommendations are:
   1. Remove commercial communications satellites from the U.S. Munitions List.
   2. Move away from quota-based launch trade agreements.
   3. Streamline and rationalize export license requirements and procedures.
3. Universal service - To guarantee universal service, we recommend that the U.S. Government place an increased emphasis on eliminating foreign market access barriers for U.S. licensed satellite systems. Ensuring universal service depends upon a number of factors, including affordability. Satellites can provide global coverage and ubiquitous access, but they require fair and equitable access to all markets to do so. The Task Force believes that fair and equitable access to all markets is feasible and essential to the satellite element of the NII/GII.
4. Open access - We now have a new Telecommunication Industry Association division in place to develop/modify standards and data protocols to ensure the interoperability of satellites with other NII/GII elements. Failure to ensure seamless interoperability among all the elements of the NII/GII will restrict the growth of new markets and will potentially preclude certain users from full and open access on a nondiscriminatory, low cost basis.
5. Private investment - We ask the Government to continue precompetitive technology investment guided by industry recommendations. Regarding the current U.S. booster development, we recommend increased relevance to commercial needs. The realization of the NII/GII will require a tremendous investment. The private sector is the most effective source, and competitive industries are the largest draw for this investment. However, in spite of U.S. industry's heavy investment, foreign aerospace firms are becoming increasingly competitive because of the investment in them by their governments. Investment by our Government will position the U.S. space industry to compete effectively.

Conclusion

Seizing the opportunities presented here will ensure meeting our nation's needs for an NII/GII with a superior information infrastructure which incorporates satellites. This superior information infrastructure will promote sustainable economic progress, worker productivity, employment opportunities, and open markets. Ideally, it will strengthen democracies and improve the quality of life globally.

Participating in the ad hoc Satellite Industry Task Force were:

• American Mobile Satellite
• AT&T
• Ball Aerospace
• Bellcore
• Boeing
• COMSAT
• CTA
• GE Americom
• Globalstar
• Hughes Electronics
• Iridium
• Lockheed Martin
• Loral
• MCI
• Motorola
• Orbital Sciences
• Orion
• PanAmSat
• Teledesic
• TRW

The Task Force was facilitated by:

• DISA
• NASA