A Whiting-Turner Lecture: "Satellite Radio"

Robert Briskman '61 , co-founder of Sirius Satellite Radio, will deliver the final Whiting-Turner lecture of the fall semester. Lecture Date & Time: November 29, 2007, 5 p.m. Lecture preceded by reception at 4:30 p.m.

Abstract
The first new commercial radio service in over one half century, called satellite radio, has been created during the past several years. One of the corporations now providing this service of over 130 audio channels to approximately 8 million subscribers throughout the continental United States and Canada is Sirius Satellite Radio.

Its co-founder, Rob Briskman, will describe the general characteristics of the service and implementations worldwide. The development of satellite radio by Sirius will then be covered both as to its engineering and commercial progress. Special focus will be provided on the unique enabling technologies. Briskman will conclude with some personal thoughts on creation of new consumer services, particularly the balance between business drivers, technology and financing.

Biography
Robert Briskman received his Bachelor of Science degree from Princeton University and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from the Clark School. He has been involved with the implementation of satellite communications systems since their inception. Briskman co-founded Sirius Satellite Radio in 1991 serving as executive vice president of engineering and currently as technical executive, where he was responsible for the implementation of its satellite radio broadcasting system to mobile subscribers in the United States.

Briskman was employed by the Geostar Corporation from 1986 to 1990, where he was senior vice president of engineering. Briskman was with COMSAT from 1964 through 1985, where he last was responsible for providing technical services in the areas of satellites, earth stations and telecommunications systems. He was vice president of system implementation of COMSAT General Corporation. Prior to joining COMSAT, Briskman was chief of program support for the Office of Tracking and Data Acquisition at NASA and received the APOLLO Achievement Award from NASA. He worked for the Army Security Agency and IBM before NASA.

Briskman is a fellow and past director, vice president for technical activities and secretary-treasurer of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which gave him the 2007 Aerospace Communications Award. He has authored more than 50 technical papers, holds many U.S. and foreign patents, served on the Industry Advisory Council to NASA and has been inducted into the Society for Satellite Professionals International and the Space Foundation Halls of Fame.

Students Welcome!

November 29, 2007
5 p.m.
1110 Kim Building

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