Technology and Political Change: The Public Interest Impact of COMSAT
The rapid technological change which the United States has experienced in the postwar era is now forcing a realignment between industry and the Federal Government. Traditional systems of interaction between the public and private sectors, including the various regulatory systems, are in need of reexamination in light of the new relationships. Different patterns of organization and governmental participation will need to be developed in several areas. Granting that the scope of projects such as going to the moon, building a supersonic transport or developing a world-wide communication satellite system requires governmental investment, on what basis can the government protect its investment and insure that the corporations are not profiting unduly at the expense of the individual taxpayer?