To be honest, I'm slowly doubting the whole satellite thing, I'm starting to lean towards maybe bouncing signals off the glass sky (ionized layer, if you want to call it that), for "satellite television". I'm not saying this as a factual statement, but we do know that local t.v. stations use antennas. Well, at least I believe this is true.
I do remember hearing about a company that spent a fortune on a private wireless communication system, between two office locations. What ended up happening was it was deemed unreliable, due to some weather conditions.
This is just me guessing right now, but to me, this is far more likely way of getting satelite t.v..
Big satelite transmitter to small satelite receiver. I remember a story of someone picking up a radio station from a distant European country, that was broadcasted by a different European country. Some speculated, that is bounced of the sky, and came down.
As far as all those rockets you see, that are reported as a new satelite system, maybe it's just a cover story for new rocket technology for the military. It sure would be a great way to silence the general public.