Taxpayer Watchdog Applauds FCC’s Plan for More Space Spectrum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) commended the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) plan to open up more space-based spectrum for several uses, particularly to aid in broadband deployment.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the Commission will vote on September 30 on an order to open more than 1,000 Megahertz in the 12 Gigahertz and 42 GHz bands for the purpose of high-speed satellite broadband, as well as to aid in-flight and on-ship connectivity and traffic routing functions in satellite ground networks.

The FCC voted in April to loosen power limits on satellite spectrum use, which will allow low-earth orbit satellite broadband providers such as SpaceX and Amazon LEO to connect more Americans with high-speed internet using wireless spectrum, potentially producing more than $2 billion in economic benefits.

TPA President David Williams issued the following statement:

“Low-earth orbit satellite broadband is a quickly-growing technology to help connect unserved Americans to the digital domain. The Trump Administration has laudably been willing to allow the technology to be incorporated into the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and the plans by states to use satellite broadband in 22 percent of locations served under BEAD. This latest FCC proposal is another step in the right direction.

“The vote by the FCC to free up more spectrum for satellite broadband will help ensure that more Americans are connected to fast and reliable internet. The FCC is embracing a technology that not only helps connect hard-to-reach locations but also saves taxpayer money.”

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The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis, and dissemination of information on the government’s impact on the economy.