The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed its previous draft proposals to significantly accelerate how it deals with applications for new satellite projects. The FCC statement, from chairman Brenan Carr, said: ““At the outset of the Trump Administration, the FCC committed to boosting America’s space economy. Delivering on that priority is key because our […]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as expected, has published its auction plan for the satellite ‘Upper C-band’ release of 160 MHz of spectrum to be used by terrestrial operators for 5G and 6G services. (The Upper C-band is 3.98-4.14 GHz). FCC chairman Brendan Carr announced that “the FCC will vote July 22nd to auction a […]

FCC chairman Brendan Carr issued what is seen as a significant vote of confidence for AST SpaceMobile during a press conference. Carr said the US wanted to “lead the world” with AST’s technology. “If you step back,” he said, “what AST is doing in significant part, or maybe exclusively in the AST [cellular] sector, is […]

The FCC has opened the important AWS-3 auction of frequencies, the first spectrum auction in four years, with two rounds taking place on June 2nd. The AWS-3 auction offers 200 5G-grade spectrum licences in mostly local markets. The licence areas included in this auction are home to over 100 million consumers across 48 states, two […]

FCC chairman Brendan Carr, talking on a panel session at the wireless CTIA event in Washington last week, said that the market for direct-to-phone (D2D) service needs more than one competitor to Starlink. “We think the market wants to be, should be, at least three facilities-based providers,” Carr told the CTIA’s recently appointed president/CEO Ajit […]

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has announced that the Commission is to vote on an order to modernise its satellite spectrum-sharing rules—a change that could unlock more than $2 billion in economic benefits for the American people and up to seven-fold more capacity for space-based broadband services. SpaceX had lobbied for such a move, suggesting it […]

Amazon Leo had formally complained to the FCC about SpaceX’s plans for 1 million satellites. The complaint did not go down well with FCC chairman Brendan Carr. Carr, in a comment posted on X, said: “I think Amazon should focus on getting Amazon’s house in order with their own launches and their own satellite constellation, […]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its much-expected Notice of Proposed Rulemaking covering its wish to tap into satellite’s Upper C-band (3.84-4.2 GHz) spectrum. The FCC is inviting comments on a range of options including auctioning up to 180 MHz with the ultimate goal of maximizing the amount of spectrum for next-gen wireless services […]

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has circulated a proposal to advance America’s leadership in wireless by seeking comment on auctioning additional mid-band spectrum in the Upper C-Band. The draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will seek comment on a range of options, including auctioning up to 180 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.2 GHz band for next-gen […]

FCC chairman Brendan Carr is not everyone’s favourite legislator, but his latest proposal looks like winning favourable support from the industry. He wants to create a ‘Space Assembly Line’ in order to ‘fast track’ applications and to demolish barriers to entry for the space and satellite sector. However, good as this idea is, he also […]