Maritime Administration's Satellite Communications Program: Is It Still Needed?

The Maritime Administration needs to identify and demonstrate specific benefits that exceed the government's costs for continuing the satellite communications services offered shippers. The continuing development of maritime satellite communications-related technology by the Maritime Administration is questionable because this technology is now available commercially. Many shipping companies have stated that the costs for procuring, installing, and operating shipboard satellite communications equipment are too high for them to independently finance these operations, especially since it has not been demonstrated that the potential benefits of satellite communications and related data processing could offset these costs.

Contains an inventory of evaluation reports produced by and for selected Federal agencies, including GAO evaluation reports that relate to the programs of those agencies.