Information transfer requirements were investigated and analyzed for the time period 1970 to 1985. Demands for information transfer services were identified and isolated in the order of their apparent relative importance, using the market potential of a particular information need as a major criterion. Relative potential payoff, and functional requirements of the identified demands were also considered. Various conditions were voluntarily accepted in this initial study, such as (1) maintenance of an objective overview, (2) consideration only of long-haul transfer services, (3) consideration of all potential demands in view of their possible benefits to the United States, and (4) avoidance of detailed analyses of the functions and parameters of advanced information transfer satellites. The principal output of the study was a preliminary cataloging of the most promising information transfer demands, and a categorization of their functional requirements. Over 300 candidate demands were identified and analyzed, of which 31 were selected and are reported upon in some detail. (Author)