International Encyclopedia of Communication Online

Extract

In recent years, satellite communication has been drastically changed by regulatory reform and technological advancement. The regulatory environment and technological advances have influenced satellite communications both structurally and content-wise. Competition in network and services development has led to advances in satellite technologies. Technological improvements in telecommunication systems have brought about lower cost digital services. Meanwhile, satellite communications facilitate the →  free flow of information while creating a national sovereignty conflict over global communication (→  Satellite Television ). In the past, satellite regulations in most countries were dictated by their domestic communication policies. National satellite regulations focused on who could provide services and in what markets. Since the 1990s, governments have liberalized satellite communication regulation, opening up the market to new players and promoting universal services. Such governmental liberalization of satellite regulation has two goals: (1) increasing competition through a blanket licensing policy, and (2) open access through an open skies policy. The blanket licensing policy , which was proposed by the US →  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the 1990s, facilitates licensing of the maximum number of systems, with minimal interference. It allows regulators to configure ... log in or subscribe to read full text