FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed the allocation of additional spectrum resources necessary for space launch communications needs. The Chairwoman has championed US leadership in space launch activities and making Commission processes simpler and more open to new entrants. These rules would add spectrum to support space launch activities and build upon Commission action in […]

Direct-to-Smartphone satellite communications have been approved – with some conditions – by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for SpaceX. This permission applies to US consumers using T-Mobile’s services. The approval was granted on November 26th and covers 7,500 of SpaceX’s Second generation Starlink satellites which will operate at lower orbits (Very Low Earth Orbits, VLEO), […]

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced that she intends to depart the FCC on January 20th 2025. Her decision follows the announcement by President-elect Donald Trump that he intends to nominate Brendan Carr to the role when he takes office. “Serving at the Federal Communications Commission has been the honour of a […]

US President-elect Donald Trump has named big tech critic Brendan Carr to lead the FCC when he takes office in January 2025. Carr has attacked what he sees as the censorship of conservative viewpoints by social media firms. Carr wrote a chapter of Project 2025 – the wish list for a second Trump presidency by […]

The past months have seen a tennis match of submissions volley back and forth between SpaceX and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over granting SpaceX and its Starlink satellites access spectrum and link with the world’s smartphones. SpaceX urgently wants access, and the FCC has – to date – firmly declined. A report from Scotiabank […]

The geostationary arc is suffering badly from the recent break-up of Intelsat’s I-33e. More than 500 individual pieces of debris have now been identified by specialists at ExoAnalytics. The researchers say the majority of the piece are “softball-sized or smaller” although there are pieces described as being of car-door size. ExoAnalytics managed to add identification […]

A report from analysts at Quilty Space says that SpaceX has filed with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and requesting permission to modify Starlink’s architecture and establish what it calls SpaceX V3. The filing refers to SpaceX’s plans for a 30,000-satellite constellation (specifically, 29,988 satellites), of which the FCC has already authorised an initial […]

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has spoken out following repeated calls by former President Trump to revoke the licences of broadcast stations for political reasons. “While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored,” she stated.” “As […]

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband system is testing its direct-to-cellular (D2C) satellite phone system in Romania, designed to show that Starlink satellites can operate at up to eight times the capacity currently allowed by the ITU’s EPFD (Equivalent Power Flux Density) limits, while still protecting geostationary satellites. Starlink’s D2C proposals are highly controversial, and many terrestrial cellular […]

Seven European cellular operators have issued negative comments on SpaceX’s plans to use its Starlink broadband satellites to provide ‘Direct-to-Cellular’ (D2C) services to consumers. Seven companies – including Vodafone, Liberty Global, Orange, PPF Telecom, Telefonica, Telenor and United Group – have told the FCC they’ll sue if the Commission loosens its rules for SpaceX’s cellular […]