The 1990's signaled a shift in this perception, culminating in the cancellation of the NASA SETI program. Yet significant advances in microwave circuitry and computer technology have continued to lower the cost and increase the performance of facilities capable of communication over interstellar distances. If our basic assumptions about the abundance of technologically advanced civilizations are correct, equipment which stands a reasonable chance of SETI success is today within the reach of even the dedicated amateur. Current thinking as to the probable distribution of extra-terrestrial civilizations is explored, and the equipment and coordination costs associated with a global search effort are estimated. The SETI League feels that the public still lacks an appreciation for the true costs and benefits of a large-scale SETI program.
Reality probably falls somewhere between the extremes articulated in Hollywood and in Washington.
The SETI League, Inc.