The ITU Space WARC in 1985 and 1988 was charged with re-evaluating the "first come first serve" premises of the international satellite regulatory regime and developing measures consistent with the principles of "guaranteed" and "equitable" access. This article situates the conference in its historical context, discusses the achievement of a minimalist version of "guaranteed access" through the adoption of the allotment plan, but finds the regulatory framework deficient in that: (a) the status quo prevailed in the majority of the radio spectrum, (b) the presence of "existing systems" in the allotment plan imposed severe constraints, and (c) proportional burden sharing mechanisms were lacking.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
All Systems Go at Space WARC (1988, Oct. 3) Broadcasting, pp. 32-33.
2.
Bowen, Robert R. and Irena Streibl (1989) The Orbit-Sharing Environment For Canadian Fixed Satellites In The 1990's And Beyond, Unpublished paper presented at the Canadian Satellite User Conference, June 19-21, Ottawa Congress Centre, Ottawa, Canada.
3.
Brophy, Theodore F. (Chairman) (1989) Report of the United States Delegation to the ITU World Administrative Radio Conference on the Use of the Geostationary-Satellite Orbit and on the Planning of Space Services Utilizing It, Washington, D.C.: United States Department of State, Bureau of International Communications and Information Policy.
4.
Carew, A.V. (1989) Communication Systems Engineering Dept., Telsat Canada. A telephone conversation with the first author on June 26, 1989.
5.
'Chairman of U.S. Delegation Reports Successful Conclusion to Space WARC on Oct. 6' (1988, Oct. 10) Telecommunications Reports, p. 19.
6.
Chomsky, Noam and Edward S. Herman (1979) The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism, Montreal: Black Rose Books.
7.
Ducharme, E.D. (1989) Director-General, Regulatory Policy and Planning, Dept. of Communication, Ottawa, Canada and vice-chair of the Canadian delegation to the Space WARCs. Taped interviews with the first author on March 22 and April 24, 1989.
8.
'First and Second World Nations Plan Satellite Strategies - For Own Good First' (1988, November). Via Satellite, pp. 44-45.
9.
Hudson, Heather E. (1986) 'Access to Information Resources: The Developmental Context of the Space WARC', in Demac, Donna A. (ed.), Tracing New Orbits, New York : Columbia University Press, pp. 209-221.
10.
International Telecommunication Union (1988 ) Final Acts: Adopted by the Second Session of the World Administrative Radio Conference on the Use of the Geostationary-Satellite Orbit and the Planning of Space Services Utilizing It. Geneva, Switzerland: ITU.
11.
'Mexico Has Had Trouble Finding Enough Traffic', Satellite Week, 198811(4), 3.
12.
United States Subcommittee on Communications and the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation- United States Senate (1986) First Session on World Administrative Radio Conference, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Gov't Printing Office.
13.
United States Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs - House of Representatives (1983) Oversight of Preparation of U.S. Delegation to First Session World Administrative Radio Conference, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Gov't Printing Office.
14.
U.S. Pleased With WARC Results (1988, Oct. 10). Broadcasting, pp. 41-42.
15.
White, Rita Lauria and Harold M. White (1987) The Law and Regulation of International Space Communication, Boston: Artech House.
