June semiconductor sales increased 5.1% from a year earlier to $34.5 billion, but down 0.3% from May, reported the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday. Q2 sales of $103.6 billion were up 5.1% from the 2019 quarter but down 0.9% from Q1, said SIA. “Significant uncertainty remains for the second half of the year due to ongoing macroeconomic headwinds,” said CEO John Neuffer, “Sales into the Americas stood out in June,” rising 29% year over year, he said.
The FCC International Bureau public notice giving guidance on determining the area around earth stations where upper microwave flexible use service stations might get unacceptable interference contradicts FCC rules or sets unnecessarily limits on earth station operators. That's according to a docket 17-172 posting Friday on a call by the Satellite Industry Association, Intelsat, EchoStar, Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Planet, Spire, Iridium, AT&T, Planet, Omnispace, SES, Panasonic, Lynx and Astranis with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai. SIA petitioned for reconsideration earlier this month.
Operational satellites in orbit topped 2,400 in 2019, up about 50% from 2017, the Satellite Industry Association's annual industry report said Thursday. Satellite industry revenue was $271 billion, SIA said: In the satellite services sector, TV transmission was by far the largest slice, at $92 billion.
A bipartisan group of senators unveiled a bill June 24 that would provide billions of dollars of federal funding for semiconductor research and manufacturing. The American Foundries Act, which is expected to be formally introduced June 29, according to a June 25 Reuters report, comes amid a strong bipartisan push (see 2006110038) for funding of U.S. technology innovation to counter China's influence in the sector.
Lawmakers introduced legislation this week to incentivize U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and provide more federal support for research and development. The bill includes refundable investment tax credits, a $10 billion federal match system to match state and local incentives, and the establishment of a new semiconductor program within the Commerce Department.
April's $34.4 billion of global semiconductor sales was 1.2% lower sequentially, 6.1% higher than April 2019, reported the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday. COVID-19 disruptions “have so far not substantially impacted overall global sales.” The monthly sequential decline was “in line with seasonal trends,” SIA said. Despite the industry’s “early signs of resilience," it said that “significant uncertainty remains."
April's $34.4 billion of global semiconductor sales was 1.2% lower sequentially, 6.1% higher than April 2019, reported the Semiconductor Industry Association Monday. COVID-19 disruptions “have so far not substantially impacted overall global sales.” The monthly sequential decline was “in line with seasonal trends,” SIA said. Despite the industry’s “early signs of resilience," it said that “significant uncertainty remains."
The U.S. semiconductor industry is preparing to lobby for billions of dollars in federal funding amid growing U.S. technology competition with China, according to a May 31 report in The Wall Street Journal. The lobbying efforts, outlined in a $37 billion draft proposal by the Semiconductor Industry Association, includes funding for a new U.S. chip factory and increased research subsidies, the report said. The SIA declined to comment.
Changes to the FCC orbital debris order, as expected (see 2004170011), netted 5-0 commissioner adoption Thursday at the agency's April meeting. Some commissioners said they approved after several items were moved from the draft order to the accompanying Further NPRM.
House Science Committee leaders and an industry group urged the FCC to pull the orbital debris draft order from April 23's agenda. The agency got increasing resistance to its proposed satellite rules update (see 2004140052), in docket 18-313 Wednesday. A satellite executive told us the agency seemed surprised by the amount of industry criticism.