Israel, supported by Algeria and Kuwait, presented a proposal to the 1973 Plenipotentiary Conference of the ITU seeking enlarged powers for the ITU relating to the allocation of orbital positions. The underscored words constitute the proposal and would allow the ITU to: effect allocation of the radio frequency spectrum and of the geostationary orbit and registration of radio frequency assignments and of position slots on the geostationary orbit, in order to avoid harmful interference between radio stations of different countries. . . . The acceptance of the Israeli proposal would have modified the traditional practices of States of assigning for use on a unilateral basis the orbital positions best suited to their needs. Resource States, including the United States, opposed the position of Israel, and ultimately its proposal was tabled. Aside from the major issue as to whether such a responsibility should be assigned to a technical body such as the ITU, a number of arguments were made against the Israeli proposal. As noted above, the 1967 Principles Treaty would have to be reconsidered if an organization were to be granted authority to allocate orbital positions, and such an instrumentality would have to be equipped not only with a very high degree of technical competence but also would have to possess a considerable amount of political authority, particularly if the issue of compliance with allocations were ever raised. Second, the United States had taken the position at WARC ST in 1971 that an orbital allocation "would inhibit the development of the geostationary orbit as a natural resource." Rankin, op. cit., p. 102, fn. 25. Rankin, ibid., p. 104. Citing, United States Department of State, Office of Telecommunications, Position Paper oh the Allocation of Orbit Positions and Specific Radio Frequency Channels, WARC ST (June 1971).
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