The legal aspects of access to the geostationary orbit /

• Main Author: Zdravic, Dusica
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1992
• Subjects: Law.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=60708

The main issue affecting the access to the geostationary orbit is how to reconcile freedom of access, inherent in any res communes regime, with equitable sharing of accessed benefits in the geostationary orbit, where the high potential for mutual interference among two or more satellites requires extensive coordination and often entails compromise of optimal configuration for telecommunication satellite systems. === The Outer Space Treaty has established the basic principles of international law applicable to outer space: the common interest principle; the non-appropriation principle; the freedom principle. === The ITU has adopted two regulatory regimes that govern the access and use of the geostationary orbit: the first-come, first-served regime (general rule); and the a priori plans (exception). === The legislation of the US, a country with the largest number of satellites in the geostationary orbit, is discussed. At the domestic level, the US has adopted the open entry policy, which it will be able to maintain to the extent that the international approach to orbit/spectrum management provides for continued availability of requested satellite assignments. At the international level, the US is committed to the global communications satellite system (INTELSAT). However, deregulatory trends in the satellite market and the rulings of the FCC developed the transborder policy and the separate systems policy.