Broadband satellite operator Amazon Leo has met the FCC to further discuss an “extension or waiver” to the FCC’s required obligation that Amazon Leo places at least 1,618 satellites (50 per cent of the planned total) to be in place by July 30th this year.

The formal request was repeated to the FCC on March 12th and followed a March 10th meeting held at the FCC with Arpan Sura (Senior counsel to FCC chairman Brendan Carr) and Jay Schwarz (chief of the Space Bureau) and representatives from Amazon Leo.

The follow-up letter did not spell out any new reasons for the request other than to remind the FCC that Amazon Leo had already requested a waiver.

The original request was made in early February and Amazon Leo requested a two-year extension to the July obligation. In that letter, Amazon Leo says it will fully populate its fleet by July 30th 2028.

Amazon Leo says it cannot meet the July deadline mainly because of a shortage in launch capacity. “Amazon Leo is producing satellites considerably faster than others can launch them,” states its FCC filing. “Amazon Leo is capable of consistently manufacturing 30 satellites per week or over 1,500 satellites per year.”

Amazon Leo is currently contracted for 102 launches across four providers: Arianespace, Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance and SpaceX.

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Categories: Articles, Satellite

Tags: amazon leo, FCC, satellite