108 MARINE SCIENCE 
as to whether the type of interrogating and transmitting system might 
not be expected to interfere seriously with other types of radio com- 
munications. According to the Canadian authorities this is not the 
case because the pulses are extremely short in duration ‘and: only 
appear as a type of noise that is not unusual im radio communications, 
and, therefore, does not seriously interfere with other transmitters. 
Due to the tremendously complex nature of the communications 
problems involved, we need immediate, competent, high-level engi- 
neering assistance, probably in the form of a consulting engineering 
firm, to assist the oceanographers. by taking examples of realistic buoy 
programs and working out the frequency requirements with the 
assistance of the Convair-ONR report. Until this is done, we cannot 
realistically make requests for radio frequency assignments.) 
Since the oceanographers communication problems extend well be- 
vond the continental limits of the United States, it is apparent that 
international relationships are almost certainly involved. ‘This would 
be true whether high flying aircraft or satellites are used’ in the solw- 
tion of the communication problems. It is felt that immediate steps 
should be taken to get the requirements for oceanographic oriented 
research programs set forth before the proper Federal agencies and 
commissions. The very excellent staff report prepared for the Com- 
mittee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the U.S. Senate entitled 
“Policy Planning for Space Telecommunications,” dated December 4, 
1960, contains many pertinent references to our problem. Following 
is a quotation from the letter of transmittal of the above document : 
Because space telecommunications, although representing a fresh ‘technology, 
must be compatible with existing national and international communications 
systems, the report indicates that planning for the future must be consonant 
with overall U.S. communications policies. This matter becomes of particular 
importance to the Congress because of the large number of agencies now having 
cognizance or jurisdiction over various aspects. of either communications or 
space research and operations and of the unusual degree of coordination thus 
involved. "46 Ke 
We must evidently take the problem of ultimate congestion in the 
electromagnetic communications spectrum of the satellites seriously, 
as may be seen from another reference to the above document by the 
Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, page 152, 
in answer to question 6: L 
However, we agree that, despite our best efforts to make most effective use 
of the spectrum, one can conceive of growth in the use of space which sometime 
in the future may result in “spectrum crowding.” The severity of this problem 
will depend not only upon the growth of space operations internationally but 
to an important degree upon technological accomplishments permitting an ex- 
tension of the usable spectrum and making more effective use of available 
bandwidth. 
Quite possibly, at the risk of being premature, since it-is now under- 
stood that the U.S. Army has cognizance of the communications types 
of satellites, it may be well to add to section 15 of S. 901 a request to 
assist oceanographically oriented agencies and programs in their com- 
munications requirements involving the satellites. __ 
It is hoped that international cooperation may be obtained in the 
assistance of radio frequency assignments for the oceanographic re- 
search programs. This is doubly necessary since oceanography like 
other sciences such as astronomy and meteorology is basically inter- 
national in nature. 
