Tag: FCC
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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…
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EchoStar Subsidiaries File Chapter 11 to Restructure $10 Billion in Debt
EchoStar Corporation announced that its primary pay-TV broadcasting subsidiary, DISH DBS Corporation, along with certain wireless subsidiaries, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a prepackaged restructuring designed to address approximately US$10 billion in debt. The cases were filed on June 30, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District…
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FCC Proposes Auction of 160 MHz in Upper C-Band Spectrum
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to vote on a proposal to auction 160 megahertz (MHz) of upper C-band spectrum, a move that would require satellite operators to clear frequencies by deploying new satellites and upgrading ground infrastructure. The proposal covers spectrum between 3.98 GHz and 4.14 GHz and is scheduled for a…
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Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium and Telesat Launch NGSO Satellite Trade Association
Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium and Telesat have formed the SpaceConnect Association, a new trade organization representing non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) operators. The association said it will work with governments, international institutions and industry stakeholders to promote a competitive satellite communications market and expand global connectivity. Former National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator David Redl has…
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FCC gives Amazon Leo more leeway on its satellite deployment schedule
Amazon Leo satellites are folded up in their dispenser, ready for deployment in low Earth orbit. (Amazon Photo) The Federal Communications Commission has freed Amazon from a requirement to deploy the first 1,616 satellites in its Amazon Leo broadband internet constellation by July 30. The looming deadline had been a condition of the FCC’s 2020…
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FCC Grants Amazon 50% Kuiper Deployment Extension to July 2027
How Did Amazon Secure Additional Time for Kuiper Deployment? The FCC granted Amazon a critical deployment deadline waiver for Project Kuiper on June 5, extending the company’s timeline to deploy 1,618 satellites—half its authorized satellite constellation—by July 30, 2027. The waiver comes with significant conditions limiting Amazon’s spectrum priority rights, potentially affecting the company’s competitive…