Once a country is made aware of the potential benefits of the project, a process must begin to include space solar power in their political mandate and to appropriate the funds for the ISPO. In the United States, for example, both these tasks require the formation of an insiders' group consisting of the president's offices, senators, and congressmen. This is absolutely necessary in order to prevent alienation and generate support from a wide range of groups. This process typically takes several months on the average and often, up to a year to define the appropriate reasons to pursue the venture. Once the funds are appropriated, the US government would not be allowed to invest directly into the ISPO. It would therefore place the funds into an interim agency for investment in the project. Intelsat is an example whereby the US places shares in this organization via Comsat. Developing Countries A developing country will have completely different reasons to participate in the project. Typically, a developing country has or will have a need for energy but with the lack of resources to acquire it. Their need is urgent, which requires that solutions are needed immediately. Although near-term solutions are seemingly remote, the ISPO has devised a method to include the developing country in the project (refer to section 5.2.1). Governmental aid diverted to the space solar power program in an equitable distribution scheme will provide the incentives necessary for full participation. Possibly, aid could be given in proportion to the amount of existing energy sources not spent by a developing country. This scheme, albeit not perfect, represents a compromise between the forces of pure economics and humanitarian aid. Approaching International Organizations The international community will play a major role in the project at the support level, in part financial but mostly in the form of recommendations, public support and awareness and in contributions in kind. Possible international groups include the United Nations (UN), the G7 and other specific groups. The UN would be an ideal forum for the exchange of ideas at the global level on the distribution of benefits and costs of the project. Although it is unlikely that the UN would form a special subcommittee on space solar power, it may be possible that a world energy sub-committee, if not in existence already, address issues related to space solar power. At that point, their mandate could include mechanisms in establishing inclusivity of all nations in space solar power program, qualifications of which country is in the development phase (refer to section 5.2.1), and coordination of the activities between governments and international organizations in the space solar power program. In order to promote the benefits of space solar power, it would be desirable to publicly support the project during an economic summit, possibly through the G7. This seems unlikely at the present time but would probably occur just prior to the large scale solar power satellite program. For the moment, efforts should not be concentrated in this high-level forum until the project is viable technically and economically. Other international groups should help in the overall development and support of the project. Possible groups include the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These groups have specific interests and demands which should be addressed in order to support overall inclusion. At present, very little information exists on these demands and hence, it would be the responsibility of ISPO's public relations group to investigate these demands. At this stage, it is important to mention the strategies of timing and disclosure for the space solar power program. In order to capitalize on the support of the politicians and the people they represent, the energy demand and its effects on the environment must be at the top of the public conscious. Unfortunately, this awareness is due, in most part, to the current crises presented by the media. Examples would be the energy crisis of the 1970s, the Persian Gulf war and environmental disasters such as the oil spill of the Exxon Valdez. Although unfortunate, these occasions represent opportune times to present the benefits of the space solar power program and to raise public support. Such timing strategies should be included in the overall external relations plan. Approaching Industry Sometime, in the hopefully not-to-distant future, when the demonstrations will have been proven successful and a decision is made to move towards a large scale program, the industrial community
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