Communication satellites orbit Earth and provide global coverage for telephone calls and television, as predicted by Arthur C. Clarke in 1945. The U.S. launched the first communication satellite in 1945, proving the concept successful. Satellites receive signals shot from cameras and transmit them to set top box companies to be viewed on televisions. Communication satellites are important today, helping provide service to distant and remote areas while aiding defense, phone calls, and signal transmission, though they are expensive and can experience networking problems.