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Intelsat Agreement Negotiating History records

 Collection
Identifier: MS2186

Scope and Contents

This collection contains documents used in actual meetings, conferences, and working groups, correspondence both internal and external, drafts of various governing documents, technical reports, and position papers of the various countries involved, and finally the official intergovernmental agreements. Also included are vertical files from each election for the position of Director General. Included in the directors' general vertical files is information regarding the dismissal of director Richard Colino. Some of the correspondence and documents have indexes, which are filed at the beginning of each series when present. This collection focuses on documenting the negotiating history behind the formation and governance of INTELSAT, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Dates of the collection are from 1961-1998, though the bulk of this collection dates from 1968-1971, during the negotiations for the definitive agreements of the member nations.

Dates

  • Creation: 1967-1998
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1968 - 1971

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical note

The International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelsat) was an international organization formed to oversee international satellite communication. Intelsat mangaed communication satellites that provided international broadcast services. The intergovernmental organization began on August 20, 1964 with 11 participating countries. Intelsat's first satellite went into orbit in 1965 and at the time had eleven particpating countries. By 1973, Intelsat had grown to more than 80 countries. In 1971 these 80 countries finally reach an agreement to broaden control of the world's communication satellite system. The INTELSAT Definitive Agreement entered into force on February 12, 1973. Prior to this landmark agreement the United States had been running Intelsat. This agreement provided the United States, represented by Communication Satellite Corp (Comsat), will remain the dominant power in Intelsat. Also, in this agreement no one country will control more than 40% of the votes of the Board of Governors. Intelsat will convene an assembly where all member nations will have equal voices.

By 2001, Intelsat became a private company with the primary source of revenue comign from satellite usage fees. The Intelsat system enables Internet connection, television broadcasting, cellular telephony, and corporate network services.

Extent

16.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection focuses on documenting the negotiating history behind the formation and governance of INTELSAT, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Included are documents used in actual meetings, conferences, and working groups, correspondence both internal and external, drafts of various governing documents, technical reports, and position papers of the various countries involved, and finally the official intergovernmental agreements. Also included are vertical files from each election for the position of Director General. Material in the collection dates from 1961-1998, with the majority of the negotiating history records being from 1968-1971. Some of the correspondence and documents have indexes, which are filed at the beginning of each series when present.

Arrangement of Collection

Organized into 7 series: Conference documents, Correspondence, Position papers, Draft agreements, Final documents, Vertical files, Directors' General, and Technical reports

Physical Location

Materials may be stored off-site, and may require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was originally gathered through the efforts of John B. Gantt, lead attorney involved in the negotiating process, and William English, a communications scientist and member of the board of COMSAT, the United States Satellite governing body.

It is unknown who donated this collection to the University and in what year.

Title
Guide to the Intelsat Agreement Negotiating History Records, 1961-1998
Status
Completed
Author
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America