An extensive computer software package was developed for use at RARC '83, the 1983 Regional Administrative Radio Conference, to plan the broadcasting-satellite service at 12 GHz in Region 2 (the western hemisphere). A panel of experts from eight Region 2 administrations was responsible for the software development. The software used at the conference was the product of cooperative combined efforts in Canada, the United States, Brazil, and the International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This software package, or portions of it, was used in Geneva during the conference by three independent computer systems: the official one at the ITU, one used by the Canadian delegation, and one used by the United States delegation. Towards the end of the conference, these three systems, and the efforts of planners of several delegations, were combined in just the right mixture to produce the high-capacity flexible plan that was agreed to by the Region 2 administration. This paper describes in some detail the developed software package and its use at the conference.

WARC-79 made significant changes to how the 12-GHz band will be used in Region 2. In particular, it decided that the 12-GHz band in Region 2 will extend upwards the 12.7 GHz, and that the upper portion of the overall band (11.7 to 12.7 GHz), will be planned at the 1983 Regional Conference. The paper describes these allocation changes and how satellite systems are being developed in Canada under these new Regulations.

The Bayesian decision procedure is given to determine a finite sequence ofn m-ary(m \geq 2)digits that have been transmitted through a channel that has memory and introduces additive noise. Minimum probability of digit estimation error is used as the criterion of goodness. Intersymbol interference at the receiver input is assumed to exist betweenLsuccessive digits. The parameternis chosen so thatn \gg L. This procedure is compared with several suboptimal procedures that are used to combat intersymbol interference and additive noise.