Rye also is upbeat about the opportunities offered by the Internet. I didn't think a few years ago that we would be able to allow a customer that comes to our Web site to downlink a one-meter image in real time. We're talking a lot of pixels, a lot of bits that have to be delivered, and the pipes have to be big enough to deliver the picture. But that capability is coming online now. Usher says everybody believes imagery data will be a large market.
Nobody has a real clue.
Core is building its archives and plans to launch a redesigned Web site next month. Exactly how the government will regulate the new industry is not completely clear. That debate was postponed when the satellite was lost in a launch mishap. But that won't be the end of the story. Media companies are planning court challenges to any government shutter control, charging that it violates the First Amendment by imposing prior restraint.