Satellite Policy Group Urges Easier LEO Access to Broadband Programs
The way the U.S. licenses satellites is often "slow, bespoke, and overly burdensome," and it should instead use shot clocks and presume that non-geostationary orbit systems that follow the FCC's rules are in the public interest, the LEO Policy Working Group (LPWG) urged Thursday. Composed of satellite industry and regulatory experts, the group issued a report and series of recommendations aimed at better spectrum sharing and coexistence, helping foster competition and better employing low earth orbit (LEO) connectivity in federal broadband programs to aid in closing the digital divide.
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LPWG's recommendations also included incremental deployment milestones and higher application fees to allow the FCC to hire more staff. In addition, the report called for replacing broadband program application processes that require duplicative submissions for small geographic areas and switching to a standardized format that more easily accommodates satellite bidders, such as allowing for aggregated bids for individual geographic areas.
As long as LEO satellite service can provide 100/20 Mbps speeds and "generally functional broadband service" for users, it should be eligible for all existing broadband subsidy programs, the group said. It advised that the necessary metrics and reporting be established to determine whether satellite providers are meeting the terms of their bid agreements. LPWG also urged that broadband programs provide free or subsidized customer-premises equipment and optional professional installation of household equipment, akin to the way traditional programs subsidize fiber or cable up to where the home Wi-Fi router plugs in. LEO should be an option for future deployment programs, as well as current and future affordability efforts, it said. In addition, the FCC should move toward mapping and data collection that accounts for a satellite's reach, such as replacing static mapping for a form of mapping that incorporates wireless signal propagation.
Michael Calabrese, director of New America’s Wireless Future Program, is LPWG's co-chair, along with Kristian Stout, director of innovation policy at the International Center for Law & Economics.
The FCC on Tuesday adopted an NPRM that makes numerous changes to the agency's satellite and earth station licensing regime (see [Re:2510280024]).