The Use of Communication Satellites for the Delivery of Education and Training Services: A Brief History,and a Look at the Present and Future

Abstract

The United States began to think seriously about a domestic satellite in the late 60's. Educational interests were one of the first to begin lobbying for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rule that carriers provide special rates. In 1969, Alaskans asked the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use the Applications Technology Satellite Number 1 (ATS-1) for medical and education research. By 1970, the FCC decided to ask for proposals for domestic satellite systems to include provisions for low cost or free public services with special emphasis on education. Eight companies responded. After holding hearings throughout 1972, the FCC decided that sufficient information was not available about the economic viability of satellites to pursue the education topic. The first domestic satellite was provided by Western Union in 1974 followed by Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1975 and American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) in 1977; Satellite Business Systems (SBS) Corporation will provide another system in 1980. American Satellite Corporation began offering services in 1974 using the Western Union satellite. In addition, a maritime satellite (MARISAT) initiated services in the Atlantic Ocean to the U.S. Navy and Merchant fleets in 1976. While rates for special usage can be negotiated with the satellite common carriers, most of the carriers do not offer the technology that would permit widespread use of communications satellites for education and training unless existing systems are shared by many users. With the continuing proliferation of usage by business, industry and government, education may be able to negotiate the sharing of time and costs with these entities and obtain services which normally would be out of reach in the foreseeable future.

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