PROGRESS IN THE DEFENSE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE PROGRAM Mr. O'CONNELL. The next section is the progress in the Defense Communications Satellite System. This progress has also been encouraging, although unfortunately we did have a failure at the last launching. The initial launch, which was made in June, was completely successful, and we have the first seven of the DCS satellites in near-synchronous orbit. All are performing satisfactorily. This chart (chart 10) indicates the general concept for the space segment of the initial defense communications satellite program. The satellites will be launched into a near-synchronous equatorial orbit. (Chart 10, referred to above, follows:) IDCSP SPACE SEGMENT(1966) CHART DTM-10 Mr. O'CONNELL. We were hoping by today to have eight more in orbit but, as I say, the launch failed, and we Mr. RANDALL. What were you using to launch it with, what kind of a booster? Mr. O'CONNELL. A Titan. Mr. RANDALL. A Titan? Mr. O'CONNELL. A Titan III-C. Mr. RANDALL. All right. Mr. O'CONNELL. We do not have a full report in detail on the causes. Chairman Holifield said he is going to ask the Air Force to come forward and give a detailed report to the committee as to just what the causes of the failure were. Mr. RANDALL. Thank you. Mr. O'CONNELL. This system will provide essential worldwide coverage for those unique and vital national security communications needs of the National Communications System. The next chart (chart 11) shows a typical pattern of use for the Defense Communications Satellite System. (Chart 11, referred to above, follows:) EARTH STATION DEPLOYMENT FOR IDCSP (1966) CHART DTM-11 Mr. O'CONNELL. We now have seven satellites in orbit. Early in calendar year 1967 the third launch of the initial defense communications satellite program will be made. It is possible that it will be pushed forward because of the launch difficulty with the second one. The program for production and delivery of the earth terminals to be used in the initial defense communications satellite program is as follows: At present there are two fixed-ground terminals plus four transportable terminals deployed and ready for operation. Three additional earth terminals will be deployed before the end of the year. During 1967, 18 additional earth terminals will be deployed. In 1968, an additional number of earth terminals will be produced and deployed throughout the world to selected sites. There is also a program for shipboard communications satellite terminals. Seven of these will be completed during 1966 and 1967; additional units will be delivered in 1968. Mr. RANDALL. Mr. O'Connell, on the shipboard, it is contemplated that the foreign governments would participate in this? Mr. O'CONNELL, No. Mr. RANDALL. They will be on the other terminals, won't they, on the earth terminals? Mr. O'CONNELL. No, sir. This is the Defense Department's system. Mr. RANDALL. This is our own? This is nothing but our own on the ship terminals? Mr. O'CONNELL. They are for U.S. defense. Mr. RANDALL. Thank you, sir. GOVERNMENT USE OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES Mr. O'CONNELL. Now, one of the important sections of my testimony and one of interest to this committee and to us, has been the Government use of commercial facilities or the pros and cons of leaseversus-own decisions. This is the next section of my statement. This is an area in which this committee has for several years been greatly interested and, in my opinion, very rightly so. It is a matter of very great interest to me also. Therefore, I would like to discuss this subject at some length. THE POLICY AND ITS BACKGROUND There is a national policy, as expressed in Bureau of the Budget Circular No. A-76-formerly Budget Bulletin No. 60-2-to utilize commercial services where they are suitable and adequate to meet the Government's need, rather than to start additional Government enterprises in multiplication and in competition with the commercial facilities. Specifically in the field of satellite communications our policies stem from the following Presidential decisions: The policy to plan for and utilize commercial communications satellite services was first enunciated by President Eisenhower on January 1, 1961, when he stated: The commercial application of communication satellites, hopefully within the next several years, will bring all the nations of the world closer together in peaceful relationships as a product of this Nation's program of space exploration. The world's requirements for communication facilities will increase severalfold during the next decade and communication satellites promise the most economical and effective means of satisfying these requirements. Increased facilities for overseas telephone, international telegraph, and other forms of long-distance, person-to-person communications, as well as new facilities for transoceanic television broadcasts, through the use of manmade satellites, will constitute a very real benefit to all the peoples of the world. This Nation has traditionally followed a policy of conducting international telephone, telegraph, and other communications services through private enterprise subject to governmental licensing and regulation. We have achieved communications facilities second to none among the nations of the world. Accordingly, the Government should aggressively encourage private enterprise in the establishment and operation of satellite relays for revenue-producing purposes. To achieve the early establishment of a communication satellite system which can be used on a commercial basis is a national objective which will require the concerted capabilities and funds of both Government and private enterprise and the cooperative participation of communications organizations in foreign countries. Various agencies of Government, including the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, have important interests and responsibilities in the field of communications. With regard to communication satellites, I have directed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to take the lead within the executive branch both to advance the needed research and development and to encourage private industry to apply its resources toward the earliest practicable utilization of space technology for commercial civil communications requirements. In carrying out this task NASA will cooperate closely with the Federal Communications Commission to make certain that the high standards of this Nation for communications services will be maintained in the utilization of communications satellites. The policy was reaffirmed by President Kennedy in his Presidential statement released July 24, 1961, when in discussing the policy of Government responsibility with reference to communications satellites, he stated: In addition to its regulatory responsibilities, the U.S. Government will: 4. Make use of the commercial system for general governmental purposes and establish separate communications satellite systems when required to meet unique Government needs which cannot, in the national interest, be met by the commercial system. President Johnson, in submitting his annual report to the Congress for the year 1964 on "Activities and Accomplishments under the Communications Satellite Act of 1962," noted the decision made during 1964 to proceed "with the development of an interim independent military system." He further reported that: This decision to proceed with a system responsive to unique and vital national security needs does not alter the policy under which the National Communications System and other Government services will use the commercial satellite and other common carrier communications systems for the transmission of the bulk of its traffic between the United States and various overseas areas. In submitting his annual report of the year 1965, President Johnson clarified and reiterated the policy of the United States in stating: It is the policy of the United States to support development of a single global commercial communications satellite system. The intent of the United States is to advance space technology for the service of all mankind and to promote its use in support of peace and understanding. The U.S. Government will use global commercial communications facilities for general governmental communications purposes wherever commercial circuits of the type and quality needed to meet Government requirements can be made available on a timely basis and in accordance with applicable tariff or, in the absence of Federal Communications Commission jurisdiction, at reasonable cost. The U.S. Government may establish and maintain separate satellite communications facilities including surface terminals to meet its unique and vital national security needs which cannot be met by commercial facilities. The capacity of these separate facilities shall at all times be limited to that essential to meet such unique needs. Mr. RANDALL. You are speaking of President Johnson? Mr. RANDALL. This was in 1964? Mr. O'CONNELL. And 1965, sir. Mr. RANDALL. And 1965. Mr. O'CONNELL. It involves two annual reports. Mr. RANDALL. Yes. Mr. O'Connell, I assume there will be, at an appropriate time, either by yourself or the committee will have a chance to interrogate you or some of your people as to the precise differences in these policies. It does appear that there are some between President Eisenhower and President Kennedy and President Johnson. Mr. O'CONNELL. Well, we would be glad to discuss that. Mr. RANDALL. I think probably you should be ready for some questions later on. It appears there are some differences here. Proceed, sir. Thank you. IMPORTANCE OF COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS IN MEETING INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS Mr. O'CONNELL. Both our domestic and our international common carrier systems are extremely important national assets and resources which are in being, and which are exercised and maintained in readi ness on a daily basis, because they are continuously used for the intercommunications of people, business enterprises and Government. In the international field, for decades-in fact, over most of the past century-this was recognized with wisdom and with vision by the British Empire. They were the first to sponsor and support an early network of ocean cables as an instrument of national policy, commerce, trade, and-when needed-military operations. I have a publication, "Britain and Commonwealth Telecommunications," which you may wish to put into the record. It indicates their progress in this field. Mr. RANDALL. Mr. O'Connell, what do you believe to be the appropriate place to put this? Mr. O'CONNELL. Following my statement. Mr. RANDALL. Without objection, it will be received. (The document referred to was retained in subcommittee files.) Mr. O'CONNELL. The only rapid communication that the President in Washington had with Admiral Dewey at Manila Bay was by way of the extensive international British cable system of that day. We did not have any way of communication through U.S. facilities. The United States does not have a farflung empire or commonwealth of nations, but at this point in our history we have a great community of interest with the many free and independent nations of the world whose rights of self-determination, progress toward higher living standards, governmental strength, stability, and ability to resist the forces of externally sponsored subversion are of great interest to us as a nation. The rapid growth of our International Telecommunications System is a matter of the greatest importance in strengthening our mutual interest and understanding. Further, it can carry conviction to all nations that our interest in their friendship and fruitful progress is no mere temporary or selfish objective. If ever a nation had a need for profuse, economical, reliable, international communication, that need is ours today. In this connection it is interesting to note that the British Commonwealth still has a somewhat larger international complex of communications than does the United States. We did not realize this until we had come to investigate it here recently. Mr. RANDALL. Would you care to expand on that just a little bit, if you do not have it in your statement later on? We are not simply talking about a transatlantic system; we are talking about all over the world. Mr. O'CONNELL. All over the world. Mr. RANDALL. And they are preeminent all over the world? Mr. O'CONNELL. Well, I would not say in every area, no. But, generally, if you consider it on a global basis, their system is more extensive and they have somewhat slightly greater capital investment. Mr. RANDALL. Who is in second place now? Mr. O'CONNELL. Well, the United States, I believe, is second. Mr. RANDALL. Following the United States, are there any other powers that come close? Mr. O'CONNELL. I would have to say we would have to take another look at it. We think not. |