Can anyone just launch their own communications satellite?

[johndehaura]

Are there any laws that prevent 'amateurs/enthusiasts' from being allowed to develop and launch their own satellites into an orbit?

 

[starryskyn]

International laws and conventions prevent the clogging up of the radio spectrum with junk signals. And the spaces in the geostationary orbit stations are regulated too. Most satellites have a limited lifetime. Either they are pushed out of orbit, or they fall silent by turning off power supply or a chemical fuse burns through.