Maritime Administration's Satellite Communications Program

Is It Still Needed? Gao ID: LCD-77-107 October 27, 1977

The Maritime Administration needs to identify and demonstrate specific benefits that exceed the government's costs for continuing the satellite communications services offered shippers. The continuing development of maritime satellite communications-related technology by the Maritime Administration is questionable because this technology is now available commercially.

Many shipping companies have stated that the costs for procuring, installing, and operating shipboard satellite communications equipment are too high for them to independently finance these operations, especially since it has not been demonstrated that the potential benefits of satellite communications and related data processing could offset these costs.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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