An apparatus and method for providing efficient connectivity to the
Internet via a satellite communication link. A particularly useful
embodiment of the invention comprises a an apparatus and method for
webcasting live events over a satellite communication link. Digital
multimedia data is converted to a bitstream format by an encoder. The
encoder supplies the bitstream data to an uplink subsystem for
transmission to a satellite. The satellite retransmits the data to a
ground-based facility which makes the content available to subscribers
over the Internet, either directly or through an independent Content
Delivery Network. A novel TCP proxy process adjusts for propagation
delays associated with the satellite path. Preferably, the TCP proxy
resides in the uplink and the ground-based receiver that receives the
bitstream data that is transported by the satellite, or by a router
configured to provide such a TCP proxy process.