Roaring Creek Earth Station is a satellite ground station operated by AT&T and located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Catawissa, Pennsylvania at 311 Earth Station Rd, Catawissa, PA 17820.[1] The facility includes three 105-foot (32 m) dishes that handle much of the communications between the United States and Europe and the Middle East.[2][3] According to James Bamford, the National Security Agency uses the facility to capture and monitor satellite telecommunications traveling in and out of the United States.[4]
Roaring Creek Station opened in June 1984 under the co-ownership of COMSAT (50 percent), AT&T (47.5 percent), RCA and Western Union (2.5 percent), with COMSAT operating the facility.[5][6][7][8] COMSAT sold its stake in the station and two others to AT&T for $55 million in January 1988.[7][8]
See also
editBibliography
- ^ Radio Station Authorization. Federal Communications Commission. September 6, 2011.
- ^ Herman, Steven L. (June 10, 1987). "National Security Agency has Big, Secret Ears". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. p. 12.
- ^ Nelson, Kathy (January 17, 2014). "Kathy Nelson: NSA". Red Bluff Daily News. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ Bamford, James (March 15, 2012). "The NSA Is Building the Country's Biggest Spy Center (Watch What You Say)". Wired. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "Comsat Dedicates Roaring Creek Earth Station". Maritime Reporter and Engineering News. July 15, 1984. p. 38. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ "Roaring Creek: Open and Operational" (PDF). COMSAT: Communications Satellite Corporation Magazine. No. 15. 1984. pp. 8–11.
- ^ a b "AT&T Will Buy Majority Shares in Earth Stations". Associated Press News. June 5, 1985. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
- ^ a b Pagano, Penny (June 6, 1985). "AT&T Pays $55 Million for 50% Interest: Comsat to Sell 3 Big Earth Stations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 14 January 2022.