a capacity of 36 simultaneous calls, arrived at a conclusion that it would cost 36 million dollars and be worth a billion. AT&T caught the FCC by surprise in 1960 when it requested permis- sion to launch an experimental satellite. At the time, the commission and other parts of the government simply weren't equipped with policy and rules covering satellite communications. RCA was awarded a contract to build a medium-orbit satellite in mid- 1961. Around the same time, Hughes was awarded a contract to build a high orbit, 24-hour satellite. By 1964, four medium-orbit and two high-orbit satellites had operated successfully. The Communications Satellite Act of 1962 formed the basis for Communications Satellite Corporation with an initial capitalization of 200 million dollars to build a system of several dozen medium-orbit satellites. Ultimately, COMSAT decided to build satellites for the higher geosynchronous orbit, the first of which was launched from Cape Canaveral in April 1965. A key early broadcast event was televising part of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the same time the United States was gaining this initial expertise and capability, other countries had been involved from the beginning. American companies built COMSAT's initial satellites and launch vehicles. AT&T negotiated with Foreign PTT organizations to build earth stations and began tests and experi- ments aimed at providing telephone service. By the time COMSAT's first satellite was launched and ready for service, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Japan had operational earth stations. In August 1964, agreements were signed to create the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat). PRACTICAL IP AND TELECOM FOR BROADCAST ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS By 1969, when Apollo 11 landed on the moon, half a billion people watched the event all over the globe through Intelsat transmission facilities. The last facilities making up the first global network were placed in service over the Indian Ocean just days before the moon