LETTER (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84M00395R000800130018-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 11, 2007
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: March 8, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/07/11 : CIA-RDP84M00395R000800130018-1
DATE
TRANSMITTAL SLIP 8 March 1982
TO: ICS Registry
ROOM NO. BUILDING
REMARKS:
ROOM NO. BUILDING
EXTENSION
- FORM NO. REPLACES FORM 36-8
9a1 wuiru MAY BE USED.
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 Approved For Release 2007/07/11 : CIA-RDP84M00395R000800130018-1
The Director of Ccntral -ntclligcnce
Wrshingion, D.C. 20505
-ntclligcncc Community Staff .
DCI/ICS 82-3010
8 March 1982
STAT;
Thank you for your letter dated March 1, 1982. The ideas
you presented will be carefully considered. We have included
a copy of your letter in the package prepared for Mr. Casey's
participation in the Cabinet Council meeting,
It is our understanding that the meeting is now scheduled
for the week of March 15, 1982.
Sincerely,
STATI
STAT.
Deputy Director
mA
Djstributi.on:
Orig - Addressee
1 - DD/ICS Chrono
1 - ICS/
1 - OGC
8 March.1982
1 - ICS ` egis r
1 - DD ICS Subject File
DCI/ICS
. STAT
STAT
STAT
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COMSAT GENERAL CORPORATION
DENNIS JAMES BURNETT
General Attorney
March 1, 1982
STAT
c2 )t j LtL,
STAT
Deputy Director
Intelligence Community Staff'
We understand that the Cabinet Council on Commerce
and Trade will consider the commercialization of civilian
weather and land satellite remote sensing this Wednesday.
We would like to share with you a few ideas which may be
helpful in preparation for your agency's participation in
the Cabinet Council meeting.
The basic policy issue -- commercialization of the
weather and land satellite systems -- should be made now.
The subsidiary issues related to the commercialization
have-been discussed and debated for more than a decade.
Further study or debate of these issues will not result in
their resolution, but will serve only to delay indef-
initely the basic policy issue. We assert that the basic
issue should be resolved now in favor of commercialization
and leave the detailed issues to be worked out later.
Without a basic policy statement by this Administration in
favor of the commercialization of the weather-and land
systems it is doubtful that the private sector would have
any incentive to make the sizeable investment necessary to
resolve the detailed issues of commercialization.
Simultaneous transfer of the weather and land systems
should be one of the options*of commercialization to be
examined further. The combination of the weather and land
programs, as proposed in our EARTHSTAR document of
December 14, 1981, would make it possible to achieve
operating economies which would greatly benefit the
STAT
STAT
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Government in the form-of reduced outlays. Furthermore,
we believe that these economies are essential to the
successful commercialization of the LANDSAT system.
Without these economies, it may not be possible to
transfer LANDSAT out of the Government. Finally, the
transfer of the weather and land systems involves the same
fundamental issue: Whether civil remote satellite sensing
should be conducted by the Government or the private
sector. Policy makers should have to address this issue
only once, especially since there do not appear to be any
issues of public policy which would preclude transfer of
either system.
Civil weather and land satellite remote sensing is an
activity appropriate for transfer to the private sector.
Private enterprise is the primary source of our economic
strength. Accordingly, the Government should procure
goods and services from the private sector whenever
possible. The operation of civilian weather and land
sensing satellites is not an inherent Government function
and there are no overriding policy factors which require.
civil weather or land satellite sensing to be conducted by
the Government. The efficiencies and economies of private
operation, combination of the weather and land systems and
development of the commercial markets would result in
reduced Government outlays if the programs transferred.
Commercialization of remote sensing would also benefit
U.S. balance of trade and space technology leadership.
We therefore urge you to actively encourage the
Cabinet Council to come to a policy decision with regard
to the simultaneous transfer of the GOES, NOAA, and
LANDSAT systems to the private sector and assign
responsibility for implementing that decision.
If you have any further questions regarding our
EARTHSTAR proposal or any of the issues presented by its
consideration, I would be pleased to provide you with
further information.
Sincerely,
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