can be prevented by including conventional filters and shielding in new equipment designs and retrofitting existing equipment by mutual agreement. At this time, no unavoidable interference problems due to SPS are evident. III.6 Would the current SPS reference system design create significant additional conflict over utilization of the geostationary orbit? Obtaining orbital slots and radiofrequency allocation for many tens of SPS satellites - or other satellites - would require extensive international discussion and agreement. Use of the geostationary orbit by telecommunications and other geosynchronous satellites has been increasing, and along with it, competition for orbital position. To date, the International Telecommunications Union, I.T.U., has assigned orbital slots on a first come, first served basis. However, this approach has created increasing conflict in the international community which considers the resource open to common use, and not subject to national appropriation. Conflict focuses on issues of exclusive use, technical debate over the number of orbital positions, and political disagreement on the Bogota Declaration, in which eight equatorial nations claim sovereignty over rhe geosynchronous orbit above their borders.33 During the SPS operational timeframe it is anticipated that multiple use communications platforms will exist for which multiple communications antenna systems would be co-located. Such an arrangement may greatly reduce the slot allocation problem. In addition, the level of microwave energy generated by and radiated from the SPS spacecraft has the potential to cause interference with communication or other satellites (including SPS's) located nearby. It is anticipated that multiple use communications platforms will come into being early in the next century which would tend to reduce the slot allocation problem. The SPS has focused attention on this issue which must be resolved whether or not SPS goes forward; an operational SPS, however, could be expected to intensify the debate. 33Christol, Carl Q. SPS Preliminary Societal Assessment; International Agreements. DOE HCP/R-4024-08, October, 1978.
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