b. the network connects local governments all over the country, and
c. it is possible to transmit local information all over the country.
Therefore, it is possible to build an economical and widely used communications media.
(2) Outline of concept
1) Hire of transponders
This plan is based on the exclusive hire and joint use by local governments of transponders mounted on a private communications satellite. The exclusivity of the hired transponders will increase in stages depending on use, and there is expected to be demand for three transponders, two for voice, facsimile, data and image transmission by digital signals, and one for transmission of images by analog signals.
2) Composition and construction of network
The goal of the plan is to build a network in which all the prefectures and municipalities participate. It is assumed that the prefectures and designated cities will participate in the network from the first stage, and the municipalities will build successive earth stations when the prefectures have established radio communications for disaster prevention, and eventually all the municipalities will join the network.
The members of the network are basically local governments, but participation is also open to public corporations in which the local government has invested, as well as organizations concerned with disaster prevention which provide medical treatment, transport, electricity, gas, etc. If there are surplus circuits, it will be necessary to examine the possibility of granting permission for local groups or small and medium-sized enterprises to use the network under certain conditions. Moreover, with regard to images sent by analog signals, as the purpose is to send local information to the whole country as a rule there should be no restrictions on the range of the receiving stations, and approaches should be made to CATV, etc., in an effort to increase the receiving stations.
The Local Authorities Satellite Communications Organization was established with investment from the prefectures and designated cities in February 1990 as the organization responsible for promoting this
