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.
The U.S. government has been slow to incentivize R&D in the semiconductor industry, ceding ground to foreign governments that have been heavily investing in advanced technologies for “decades,” said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. He praised a recent push by Congress and the administration to provide more such federal funding and said much more is needed. “These would be very, very important first steps,” Neuffer said in an American Enterprise Institute interview Monday. “But when you compare to some other governments, it’s insufficient.” The Trump administration has taken what it says are significant measures to attract semiconductor manufacturing and counter rising competition from China, including convincing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a factory in Arizona (see 2006240045) and increasing license restrictions for foreign exports of semiconductors to Huawei. Instead of more restrictions on China, Neuffer said he wants more domestic spending to aid U.S. companies. He said other governments “identified semiconductors as strategic industries long ago” and “they’ve been plowing substantial amounts into attracting semiconductor manufacturing.” Neuffer said the administration “has been working behind the scenes” on incentives for the semiconductor industry, and encouraged it and Congress to move faster and raise funding levels. The White House didn't comment Tuesday.
The U.S. government has been slow to incentivize R&D in the semiconductor industry, ceding ground to foreign governments that have been heavily investing in advanced technologies for “decades,” said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. He praised a recent push by Congress and the administration to provide more such federal funding and said much more is needed. “These would be very, very important first steps,” Neuffer said in an American Enterprise Institute interview Monday. “But when you compare to some other governments, it’s insufficient.” The Trump administration has taken what it says are significant measures to attract semiconductor manufacturing and counter rising competition from China, including convincing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a factory in Arizona (see 2006240045) and increasing license restrictions for foreign exports of semiconductors to Huawei. Instead of more restrictions on China, Neuffer said he wants more domestic spending to aid U.S. companies. He said other governments “identified semiconductors as strategic industries long ago” and “they’ve been plowing substantial amounts into attracting semiconductor manufacturing.” Neuffer said the administration “has been working behind the scenes” on incentives for the semiconductor industry, and encouraged it and Congress to move faster and raise funding levels. The White House didn't comment Tuesday.
The U.S. government has been slow to incentivize R&D in the semiconductor industry, ceding ground to foreign governments that have been heavily investing in advanced technologies for “decades,” said Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer. He praised a recent push by Congress and the administration to provide more such federal funding and said much more is needed. “These would be very, very important first steps,” Neuffer said in an American Enterprise Institute interview Monday. “But when you compare to some other governments, it’s insufficient.” The Trump administration has taken what it says are significant measures to attract semiconductor manufacturing and counter rising competition from China, including convincing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to build a factory in Arizona (see 2006240045) and increasing license restrictions for foreign exports of semiconductors to Huawei. Instead of more restrictions on China, Neuffer said he wants more domestic spending to aid U.S. companies. He said other governments “identified semiconductors as strategic industries long ago” and “they’ve been plowing substantial amounts into attracting semiconductor manufacturing.” Neuffer said the administration “has been working behind the scenes” on incentives for the semiconductor industry, and encouraged it and Congress to move faster and raise funding levels. The White House didn't comment Tuesday.
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.
The Satellite Industry Association “strongly encourages” the Senate to “rapidly” reconfirm FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, President Tom Stroup said Monday. The Senate Commerce Committee plans a Tuesday confirmation hearing (see 2006100056). Trump renominated O’Rielly in March to a term ending June 30, 2024. O’Rielly for now can remain until 2021. He has a good chance of Senate OK (see 2004030072).
The Satellite Industry Association “strongly encourages” the Senate to “rapidly” reconfirm FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, President Tom Stroup said Monday. The Senate Commerce Committee plans a Tuesday confirmation hearing (see 2006100056). Trump renominated O’Rielly in March to a term ending June 30, 2024. O’Rielly for now can remain until 2021. He has a good chance of Senate OK (see 2004030072).
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.