GAO discussed the evolution of export controls on commercial communications satellites, focusing on: (1) key elements in the export control systems of the Department of Commerce and the Department of State; (2) how export controls for commercial satellites have evolved over the years; (3) the concerns and issues debated over the transfer of commercial communications satellites to the export licensing jurisdiction of Commerce; and (4) the safeguards that may be applied to commercial satellite exports.

GAO noted that: (1) the U.S. export control system--comprised of both the Commerce and State systems--is about managing risk; (2) exports to some countries involve less risk than to other countries and exports of some items involve less risk than others; (3) the planning of a satellite launch with technical discussions and exchanges of information taking place over several months, involves risk no matter which agency is the licensing authority; (4) recently, events have focused on the appropriateness of Commerce jurisdiction over communication satellites; (5) by design, Commerce's system gives greater weight to economic and commercial concerns, implicitly accepting greater security risks; and (6) State's system gives primacy to national security and foreign policy concerns, lessening--but not eliminating--the risk of damage to U.S. national security interests.