Optical Communications in a Legal Vacuum?

in Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (2013), 2012

The use of optical communication has many technical advantages. The thesis that it stands outside of any legal framework can, however, be hardly defended. Despite of the fact that the intensity of legal ... [more ▼]

The use of optical communication has many technical advantages. The thesis that it stands outside of any legal framework can, however, be hardly defended. Despite of the fact that the intensity of legal rules regulating the use of optical communication is lower that eg the use of radio frequences, both ITU basic texts and the UN space treaties contain binding rules which have to be respected. [less ▲]