Market Scenarios and Alternative Administrative Frameworks for U.S. Educational Satellite Systems. Memorandum No. CG-75/2.

Overview & Synopsis

Intended as a framework for analysis of the costs and benefits of developing an operational educational satellite system in the United States, this memorandum presents a series of scenarios of potential applications together with alternative organizational arrangements to support them. The number of satellite channels (25) and the number of ground terminals (up to 50,000-70,000) that might be required to serve various educational sectors are estimated. The market scenarios described include (1) public broadcasting; (2) early childhood education; (3) elementary and secondary education; (4) career and vocational/technical education; (5) adult education; (6) higher education; (7) special education including migrants, correctional institutions and the handicapped; and (8) computer and information services. Alternative administrative frameworks included for illustrative purposes are (1) Project Out-Reach; (2) Educational Satellite Consortium (EDSAC)-both of which are already in operation--together with (3) SKYNET, a proposed commercial satellite system to serve users in and out of education; and (4) PILOT, a government owned and operated system that would provide bulk quantities of satellite channel time to private sector telecommunications organizations. (DGC)