Communications Satellite Act of 1962
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| Long title | An Act to provide for the establishment, ownership, operation, and regulation of a commercial communications satellite system, and for other purposes. |
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| Acronyms (colloquial) | CSA |
| Enacted by | the 87th United States Congress |
| Effective | August 31, 1962 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 87-624 |
| Statutes at Large | 76 Stat. 419 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 47 U.S.C.: Telegraphy |
| U.S.C. sections created | 47 U.S.C. ch. 6 § 701 et seq. |
| Legislative history | |
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The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 was put into effect in order to deal with the issue of commercialization of space communications. This act was very controversial, and was left very open-ended. The act was signed August 31, 1962 by President John F. Kennedy.
The act aimed to join together private communication companies in order to make satellites more obtainable.
Democratic Senator Russell B. Long of Louisiana said of the act, "When this bill first started out I thought it was as crooked as a dog's hind leg. I am now convinced that that would be a compliment. This bill is as crooked as a barrel of snakes." The American Telephone and Telegraph Company argued that using space for communications was just a modern representation of the submarine communications cables currently in use. AT&T proposed joint ownership of all of the communications satellites, with control based on the system facilities, but since AT&T had a majority of world communications this proposition was opposed by other communication companies. The Federal Communications Commission proposed that the ten companies join together in a program, but this was put down with anti-trust legislation.
The compromise allowing the bill to pass was that there would be government regulation on the communication industry. The United States Congress made it so that all companies registered by the FCC had nondiscriminatory access to the satellite systems. This would allow competition to develop among the companies, thus preventing trusts from forming. The United States Government, including the President, NASA, and the FCC, were all to maintain certain duties to monitor the communications satellites. The President was to observe every aspect of the development and operation of the satellite systems. He is also responsible for providing arrangements with foreign participation. NASA was designated as a technical advisor for the FCC and the communications corporation to the extent that would aid the nation. NASA was to receive reimbursement for the services it rendered. The largest burden on regulation falls on the FCC. The FCC was deemed responsible for making sure that competition is present, and that small businesses would be able to participate.
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