All countries desire direct satellite broadcasting (DSB) since it can create a telecommunications network without an expensive land-based transmission system. However, with this ability comes disagreement over not only how to use DSB to the greatest benefit, but also how to protect the system from what many see as potentially great misuse. Among the issues that need to be addressed are equal access, the spillover of signals, and the allocation of frequency and orbital slots. To address these concerns, the general trend in international policy-making has been toward more regulation in both access and use. Since the existing treaties governing the deployment and use of satellites are products of compromise and the varied practices within a range of countries, it is not surprising that they often contain contradictory and confusing language. Because of this ambiguity, many interpretations exist as to the meaning of the various treaties concerning countries' use of space. A country's technological expertise, politics, and wealth create difficulties in predicting what stance a country may take concerning DSB. Compromises made by developed countries as a result of Third World and eastern bloc pressure for equal access and protection from cultural or political damage represent affordable concessions given to maintain and protect a current dominance in international telecommunications. (HOD)