[A Navy Vet]

"My understanding is that the distance involved is the issue with satellite communications. The information is travelling close to light speed, but having to go up to a satellite and back down introduces a delay that would not exist in the more direct route beneath the ocean. I could be wrong."

Radio waves travel AT the speed of light. The distance between Earth bound electomagnetic waves (radio) and orbiting satellites is almost unmeasurable. Plus, it's cable communications have to deal with many choke points or amplifiers due to resistance in the physical wiring system. Fiber optic undersea cables are actually slower than bouncing the same comms off a satellite, so I've read. Although they are more difficult to intercept.

That's why many advanced nations are looking to target satellites. But then, I could be wrong.

[citizen]

Watching a NY cable TV person talk to someone via satellite, there can be a up to couple of seconds delay, seems like. When the studio talker stops and then starts again he ends up stepping on the person on the other end who thinks it’s his time to answer.

This delay can be a short quarter second, hardly noticeable or a lot longer if it gets, I assume, bounced up to a satellite and down to a ground based station then back up again a couple of times.

[Signalman]

Fiber optic undersea cables are actually slower than bouncing the same comms off a satellite, so I've read.

Not correct. Geo-Stationary satellites hover about 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the earth. So even though radio waves travel at the speed of light (186K/sec) the time it takes a signal to be sent to a satellite, be processed, and then get relayed back down to Earth is a factor. Ever watch someone on Fox News etc being interviewed, who is across the country? They have to wait a few seconds after a question is asked before they can respond. That conversation is being sent via geo-stationary satellite.