Based on Mark Chartrand's highly successful seminar series, this book is a comprehensive introduction to satellite communications covering a broad sweep of regulatory, standards, economics, business, operational, and technical subjects. The text is easily readable, highly entertaining, and truly geared for the nontechnical. Dr. Chartrand employs his unique ability gained over two decades of teaching to explain complex technical and satellite applications to professionals in marketing, finance, law, public relations, and journalism, as well as personnel in ancillary fields and members of the public who wish to better understand the satellite industry. Contents: Part 1: Telecommunications and Satellites - Introduction and Some Historical Background - The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Telecommunications - Satellite Telecommunications: Users, Applications, and Markets Part 2: Technical Background - Basic Definitions and Measurements - The Spectrum and Its Uses - Analog and Digital Signals - Carrying Information on Waves - Signal Flow, Quality, and Noise Part 3: The Space Segment - The Space Environment - Orbits - Orbital Slots, Frequencies, Footprints, and Coverage - Out To Launch - Satellite Systems and Construction - Satellite Operations: Housekeeping and Communications Part 4: The Ground Segment - Earth Stations: Types, Hardware, and Pointing - Earthstations: Antenna Properties - Earthstations: Signal Flow, Electronics, EIRP, and G/T Part 5: The Satellite-Earth Link - Atmospheric Effects on Signals - Putting It All Together: Link Budgets - Multiple Access: Many Users on One Satellite Part 6: Satellite Communications Systems - Satellite Communications Providers and Competitors - Issues, Trends and the Future Appendices: A. Glossary of Common Satellite Telecommunication Terms B. List of Common Acronyms C. Selected Bibliography for Additional Reading D. Periodicals and Newsletters E. Mathematical Background Details Contents: Ch. 1: Introduction and Some Historical Background Ch. 2: The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Telecommunications Ch. 3: Satellite Telecommunications: Users, Applications, and Markets Ch. 4: Basic Definitions and Measurements Ch. 5: The Spectrum and Its Uses Ch. 6: Analog and Digital Signals Ch. 7: Carrying Information on Waves Ch. 8: Signal Flow, Quality, and Noise Ch. 9: The Space Environment Ch. 10: Orbits Ch. 11: Orbital Slots, Frequencies, Footprints, and Coverage Ch. 12: Out To Launch Ch. 13: Satellite Systems and Construction Ch. 14: Satellite Operations: Housekeeping and Communications Ch. 15: Earth Stations: Types, Hardware, and Pointing Ch. 16: Earthstations: Antenna Properties Ch. 17: Earthstations: Signal Flow, Electronics, EIRP, and G/T Ch. 18: Atmospheric Effects on Signals Ch. 19: Putting It All Together: Link Budgets Ch. 20: Multiple Access: Many Users on One Satellite Ch. 21: Satellite Communications Providers and Competitors Ch. 22: Issues, Trends and the Future