The current ground station design shares as much as possible with digital satellite TV and can take advantage of all of the receive parts for that. The antenna is position-once. So, not necessarily so pricey.

There are a few advantages we don't have today. One is digital ID. You can use cryptographic techniques for that as long as you don't obscure the content of a communication, and be perfectly in compliance with FCC and ITU rules. So, no Guatemalan taxicabs intruding on a digital satellite. You can also manage bandwidth, and thus prevent any ID from grabbing more than one channel at a time, you can prioritize that classroom transmission and an emergency in progress over other traffic, etc.

I don't know if the photo will come over the list. But I always think of it when meeting opposition to future modes.

    Thanks

    Bruce