The 1977 World Administrative Radio Conference for the Planning of the Broadcasting-Satellite Service in Frequency Bands 11.7-12.2 GHz (Regions 2 and 3) and 11.7-12.5 GHz (Region 1) was a specialized world radio conference that dealt specifically with the broadcasting satellite service. At the time, it was one of the largest world-wide planning conferences held in the field of broadcasting. The main objective of WARC SAT-77 was to develop a plan for broadcasting satellites. Therefore, the Conference was devoted to the drawing up of detailed plans and associated policy considerations and procedures to permit the future development of radiocommunication services for broadcasting and television, as well as policy plans that would impact the future use of the fixed satellite and terrestrial services. In effect, the Conference established the foundation of satellite broadcasting.

A great deal of preparation took place prior to the conference. Notably, a CCIR Joint Working Party submitted a technical report that included data for planning the use of the 12 GHz band by the broadcasting-satellite service and the technical criteria for the sharing of this band. In addition, the IFRB gathered information on the foreseeable requirements of administrations for the broadcasting-satellite service and arranged it in a form suitable for planning exercises and comparative studies. These materials were sent to all administrations prior to the Conference. Furthermore, since satellite broadcasting was a relatively new field, preparatory regional seminars were held for the Latin American, Asian, and African and Arab countries in order to familiarize the administrations with the various aspects of the problems involved in such a planning conference and the various factors which would have to be taken into consideration as the work of the conference progressed. Ensuring equitable access to the spectrum so that orbital positions would be available to developing countries when they were eventually ready to launch and use broadcasting satellites was a significant concern to many Member States.

More than 600 delegates took part in the work of the Conference. The traditional structure of an administrative conference was adopted and eight committees were set up. However, the Conference faced a number of technical and practical challenges. Consequently, in addition to the Chair and Vice-Chairmen of the conference, a Special Vice-Chair was elected to coordinate and appraise the activities of Committees 4 (Technical), 5 (Planning), and 6 (Procedures) to ensure that the work of these committees resulted in fair and balanced planning.  

The growing importance of computers and data processing to the work of ITU was apparent throughout the work of the Conference. In his closing remarks the Chair underlined the necessity of the computer facilities used by the individuals who carried out the planning work. The Conference relied heavily on a program and computer provided by Télédiffusion de France, as well as other programs from the European Broadcasting Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, and Japan. Finally, the formal updating of the list of requirements and the final analyses of the draft plans and the Plan was carried out successfully by the IFRB using ITU computing and printing facilities in Geneva.

By the close of the Conference, the following points were achieved:

• the establishment of a Plan for the broadcasting-satellite service in Regions 1 and 3 (the whole world except the Americas);
• the adoption of a set of principles to govern the broadcasting-satellite service in Region 2 (the Americas), pending the holding of a regional radio conference and establishment of a detailed plan no later than 1982; and
• the establishment of a method for making changes in the Plan.

In addition, in order to prepare for the upcoming World Administrative Radio Conference in 1979, WARC SAT-77 was asked to consider the report prepared by the Group of Experts on the possible rearrangement of the Radio Regulations. After making minor changes to the proposals in the report, the Conference instructed the Secretary-General to draw up and distribute the final text concerning the rearrangement of the Radio Regulations, which would essentially serve as a basis for telecommunication administrations of Member States to present proposals to the 1979 Conference.