ABSTRACT
To understand the impact of the Domestic Satellite (DOMSAT) decision, an understanding of the origins of regulation, the domestic communication common carriers and the Federal Communications Commission is required. This chapter reviews the foundations of the organizations and industries that participated in DOMSAT. Frequency spectrum utilization established the second major boundary condition. The separation of satellites on 70° of geostationary arc would be no problem if each satellite could use different portions of the frequency spectrum. Although the satellite in space represents probably the most novel means of communications yet devised by man, the domestic common carriers initially looked upon this innovation as no more than a "telephone pole in the sky". DOMSATs posed such a threat to the common carrier market. The telecommunications policy makers who confronted the communication satellite issue were faced with the same public interest considerations that any group would have had in opening a new market that was based on a new technology.
