Page 26 - Communication Commerce and Power The Political Economy of America and the Direct Broadcast Satellite

Introduction 13

developed. Finally, the Conclusion points to implications and poten-
tial contradictions stemming from contemporary strategies involving
international communications. In light of the book's findings, general
suggestions are made as to the role of communication in ongoing
efforts by US interests to resist political-economic decline and con-
struct a twenty-first-century Pax Americana.
Out of hegemonic crisis, new economic interests have emerged and
have ignited a range of domestic and international reforms. The case
of Reagan appointee Dennis LeBlanc was a comedic reflection of the
structural conditions that handcuffed American state officials in their
work to service the emerging demands of diverse information eco-
nomy interests. The American state subsequently became the target of
a remarkable effort toward domestic reform. Only then was the Uni-
ted States able to reform core instititions in the international political
economy. But before this history is elaborated using DBS as a narrat-
ive guide, I present the theoretical issues and conceptual tools expli-
citly and implicitly used in subsequent chapters.

NOTES
1 Dennis LeBlanc quoted in Helen Thomas, 'Federal Exec Doubles as
Ranch Hand,' UPI Release (19 December 1982) n.p. Also see Thomas,
'Commerce Administrator-Ranch Hand Resigns,' UPI Release (7
November 1983) n.p.
2 Hornet quoted in US Congress, Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations.
Subcommittee on Arms Control, Oceans, International Operations and
Environment. Hearings on 'International Communication and Informa-
tion Policy.' 98th Congr., lst sess. (19 and 31 October 1983) p. 173.
3 These figures are from a 1986 UNESCO study that subdivided informa-
tion economy activities into four sub-sectors: 'media' (including the
producers of information content, such as film, video, music, radio, the
press and television); 'services' (constituting those industries that process
and disseminate information, including data processing, software, on-line
data bases, computer services, telecommunication carriers and postal
services); 'equipment' (referring to manufacturers of capital goods needed
for both 'media' and 'services'); and the 'components' sub-sector (refer-
ring to other products and services that are direct inputs for 'media,'
'services' and 'equipment'). UNESCO, World Communication Report
(Paris: UNESCO, 1989) p. 83.
4 Hereafter, all references to dollars will refer to US currency unless
otherwise indicated.
5 Coalition of Service Industries, The Service Economy, 7(3) (July 1993)
p. 13.