Tag: FCC
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Commercial GEO Satellite Orders Rebound to 14 in 2026 as C-Band Transition Drives Fleet Renewal
Commercial geostationary communications satellite orders reached 14 spacecraft through September 21, up from 10 during all of 2025 and the highest annual total since 2020, according to market intelligence firm Novaspace. The recovery is being driven partly by satellite operators preparing for another U.S. C-band spectrum transition while replacing aging broadcast and connectivity assets. The…
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FCC Sees More Than $100 Billion From Spectrum Auctions Through 2028
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said September 16 that a series of U.S. spectrum auctions planned over the next two years could generate more than $100 billion, as the agency prepares to release additional frequencies for terrestrial wireless networks, space-based broadband and future 6G services. The estimate covers a multi-year auction program beginning with…
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SpaceX FCC Filing Outlines First Full Orbital Attempt for Starship Flight 14
SpaceX has submitted communications applications to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for Starship Flight 14, formally identifying the mission as the program’s first attempt to place the vehicle into a sustained Earth orbit. The paperwork requests authority to operate launch-vehicle communications during a window beginning September 15, 2026, and extending through March 15, 2027. The…
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SpaceX Asks FCC to Restrict ViaSat-3 F2 Over Starlink Interference Risk
SpaceX has asked the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider its authorization for Viasat’s ViaSat-3 F2 broadband satellite, arguing that the geostationary spacecraft should not be permitted to operate in portions of the Ka-band where non-geostationary systems such as Starlink have regulatory priority. The petition, filed on August 28, targets ViaSat-3 F2’s proposed use of the…
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FCC Clears AST SpaceMobile to Test 800 MHz Satellite Connectivity
The 800 MHz band matters for direct-to-device service because lower-frequency spectrum penetrates buildings and reaches phones in more challenging environments. The authorization is a regulatory step that could expand the practical use cases for AST’s service beyond outdoor coverage. The action, reported on August 17, 2026, grants AST temporary permission to conduct tests rather than…
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Amazon Files for 5,105-Satellite D2D Constellation
Is Amazon Building a Separate D2D Megaconstellation on Globalstar Spectrum? 5,105 satellites. That is the scale of the Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite constellation Amazon has formally filed with the FCC under the name "Amazon Leo," operating in spectrum the company intends to acquire through its pending Globalstar deal. The filing, reported by Via Satellite on July…
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FCC Approves New Part 100 Rules to Streamline Space Licensing
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a broad overhaul of its satellite and earth station licensing framework, replacing its long-standing Part 25 rules with a new Part 100 regulatory structure. The agency said the updated framework is intended to create what it describes as a “licensing assembly line” aimed at improving the efficiency…
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Reflect Orbital Clears FCC for First Space Mirror Launch
Is Reflect Orbital’s Space Mirror Constellation Legal to Launch? California-based startup Reflect Orbital has received a license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch and operate its first demonstration satellite, Eärendil-1 — a spacecraft designed to unfurl a reflective surface measuring approximately 18 meters (60 feet) on a side. The license, announced July…
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FCC Greenlights Reflect Orbital’s 18m Sun Mirror Sat
Does the FCC Have Authority to Regulate Space-Based Sunlight Mirrors? The FCC said no — and on July 9, it formally authorized Eärendil-1, Reflect Orbital’s 142-kilogram demonstrator satellite equipped with an 18-meter-per-side thin-film reflector designed to bounce sunlight onto nighttime regions of Earth. The spacecraft is planned for launch later this year into a low…
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FCC Set to Vote on Satellite Licensing Reforms
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to vote later this month on a package of regulatory reforms designed to streamline the satellite licensing process and support the growth of the commercial space industry. SpaceTechnology FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the commission plans to consider the proposed Space Modernization Order during its meeting…