If you look At Home , you will see the role NASA played in developing satellite TV transmission technology. But TV signals are only one kind of data transmitted by satellites. Telephone signals, computer data, and computer images are also beamed around the world via satellite.
Many American companies sell satellite data transmission services.
These commercial space communications systems evolved from high-risk technology developed and tested in orbit by NASA in the 1960s and 1970s. This technology base allowed the US telecommunications industry to lead the way in building and operating communications satellites. The GEO satellites relay data between the lower LEO satellites. Data is also relayed from the LEO satellite through the GEO satellite and down to the ground. This technology means that NASA and satellite companies can operate their satellites with a minimum of ground stations.