PLANNING FOR THE BROADCASTING-SATELLITE SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ABSTRACT The 1983 Regional Administrative Radio Conference (RARC-83) for Region 2 is the next in a series of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) meetings which will shape the Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS) in the western hemisphere. This paper provides insight into some opportunities and associated problems presented by BSS in the United States, and mechanisms by which the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is integrating advice from the private sector into its planning for RARC-83. Eight proposals, to provide Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service in the 12.2 – 12.7 GHz band, were accepted for filing by the FCC in October 1981, and provide important inputs to the RARC-83 preparations.
The Impact of WARC-79 on the Broadcasting-Satellite Service
The World Administrative Radio Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 1979 (WARC-79) decided many of the international issues facing the Broadcasting-Satellite service (BSS) and adopted Resolutions and Recommendations dealing with most of the others. This paper identifies the BSS issues codisidered at WARC-79, describes the actions taken during the Conference, indicates the current status of subsequent WARC-mandated activities involving the BSS, and assesses the potential impact of the WARC on future BSS systems. by the authors and were integrated by the Editors.
The Impact of the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference on the Fixed-Satellite, Inter-Satellite, and Mobile-Satellite Services
The Fixed-Satellite service (FSS) is the most heavily used and still the fastest growing of the seventeen space radio communications services recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). To provide the additional spectrum needed for continued growth in both domestic and international satellite networks, the ITU's 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-79) more than doubled the bandwidth allocated to this service in most parts of the spectrum. The Inter-Satellite service (ISS) is an "auxilliary" service whose allocations are intended to provide intersatellite links between the space stations of other services. Although not yet implemented in commercial systems, such links are expected to be used extensively in future FSS networks. To permit the introduction of the ISS earlier and at lower cost than would be possible with the existing allocations above 50 GHz, WARC-79 allocated two 1-GHz-wide bands to the ISS at 23 and 33 GHz. The Mobile-Satellite services (MSS) include land, maritime, and aeronautical components. WARC-79 left the Aeronautical-Mobile Satellite allocations essentially unchanged, created new possibilities for development in the Land-Mobile Satellite service, and essentially doubled the spectrum that will be available to the Maritime-Mobile Satellite service. WARC-79 made only minor changes to the regulatory procedures for gaining access to the various space service allocations. However, in response to the concerns of developing nations about equitable access to the spectrum and the geostationary satellite orbit for future satellite systems, WARC-79 resolved to convene another World Administrative Radio Conference in two sessions scheduled for 1984 and 1985 (WARC-84/85).