Creating Intelsat

Abstract

The US Congress had first looked at satellite communications as early as 1959 and had spent much of 1961 and half of 1962 in hearings and debates on the subject. The Kennedy Administration had put satellite communications on its agenda from the start—much of the Space Council’s efforts in 1961 were devoted to satellite communications. All the departments and agencies of government had been heard from, but it wasn’t really clear what was intended or expected by the government. The State Department had been a constant presence in the Space Council meetings and the congressional hearings. The State Department felt, as did President Kennedy, that the space race was just an extension of the Cold War and that satellite communications was part of the space race. State had wanted a government monopoly on satellite communications. They were afraid that the profit motive would cause the company to bypass third-world countries—countries that might fall into the Communist camp. Although other countries were invited to participate in the global satellite communications enterprise, the assumption had been that the US entity would own or control the satellites.¹

More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.

Kofi Anan