Author Description

The October 1993 Department of Defense Report on the Bottom-Up Review called for a greater reliance on commercial satellites for general-purpose military communications. This policy guidance was influenced in part by the Congressionally mandated Commercial Satellite Communications Initiative (CSCI) studies. AS the DOD shifts to commercial platforms, what are the corresponding security implications? Drawing on information available in the public domain, this paper will attempt to determine whether commercial satellites have an increased vulnerability to attack; and, if so, what measures should be taken to protect them and who should provide that security.