A think tank releases its detailed review of the American satellite communications industry
Go here and here for originals.
Link to the press release is here. To read the actual report go here.
The report was issued by the LEO Policy Working Group, which calls itself “an independent body dedicated to providing forward-looking, data-driven analysis and policy recommendations to ensure the successful and sustainable deployment of next-generation Low Earth Orbit satellite systems.” In reviewing the membership of this group, I noticed that only one member appeared drawn from the industry itself (a former OneWeb advisor). The rest of the members were from lobbying groups, government agencies, academia, or DC think tanks.
Thus, I immediately wondered if this report was aimed against SpaceX and its present dominance, designed to justify further government regulation against it.
In reviewing the report however it does not seem so, at least on the surface. The report very accurately and detail describes the present state of the industry and all the players, including all the present constellations in orbit or under construction. It also describes the state of the launch industry on which they depend, including the risks entailed by SpaceX’s present dominance. At the same time it also notes at length that there is no evidence that SpaceX is doing anything to take advantage of that dominance.
Its recommendations are generally vague, and can be summed up simply as “Government should remain vigilant but do nothing drastic at this time.”
The report’s main benefit however its overall summary of the industry, as well as its detailed description of how the spectrum is regulated by government agencies.
Click for original.
Its recommendations for the latter seem reasonable and based on strengthening competition rather than government control. For example, it details how many many constellations obtain a license for bandwidth from the FCC but then are very late in launching their satellite constellations, as noted by its graph to the right.
A key concern is whether these milestone requirements strike the right balance between facilitating market entry and deterring frivolous or infeasible applications. Some argue that these deployment deadlines are too lengthy and should be shortened, given the rapidly evolving ecosystem in LEO. Another consideration is whether enforcement of the buildout milestones is sufficient to offset the incentive for prospective satellite operators to apply and then later drop out if sufficient financing is not secured. The primary issue is how the FCC should distinguish systems that are legitimately trying to meet buildout requirements versus purely speculative or frivolous applications. The Commission has not yet tested how milestone waivers are to be handled, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper serving as one of the first cases to raise this issue. The ITU already has some precedent for handling waiver requests, which could serve as a reference point for the FCC.36
Introducing a higher up-front financial bond (for example, an escalating bond of $5 million or more post authorization) could serve as a stronger incentive to meet deployment milestones. Such a bond could be structured to release funds as verified buildout milestones are met. Conversely, failure to meet deadlines could result in partial forfeiture. This system would add accountability while giving applicants the opportunity to recover costs through performance. One of the potential downsides is that higher application fees or bond requirements may crowd out less well-funded startups and early innovators.
The report also suggests the FCC require a more incremental approach for these milestones, as well as introduce more firm scheduling requirements.
Overall, I recommend my readers take a look at this report. They will find it very informative.
Unfortunately, we won’t be the only ones reading it. The vagueness of some of its recommendations will allow every lobbying group in Washington, no matter who each represents, to quote this report for ammunition. Expect a number of government players, especially our camera-loving politicians, to use it to promote their own petty causes.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Go here and here for originals.
Link to the press release is here. To read the actual report go here.
The report was issued by the LEO Policy Working Group, which calls itself “an independent body dedicated to providing forward-looking, data-driven analysis and policy recommendations to ensure the successful and sustainable deployment of next-generation Low Earth Orbit satellite systems.” In reviewing the membership of this group, I noticed that only one member appeared drawn from the industry itself (a former OneWeb advisor). The rest of the members were from lobbying groups, government agencies, academia, or DC think tanks.
Thus, I immediately wondered if this report was aimed against SpaceX and its present dominance, designed to justify further government regulation against it.
In reviewing the report however it does not seem so, at least on the surface. The report very accurately and detail describes the present state of the industry and all the players, including all the present constellations in orbit or under construction. It also describes the state of the launch industry on which they depend, including the risks entailed by SpaceX’s present dominance. At the same time it also notes at length that there is no evidence that SpaceX is doing anything to take advantage of that dominance.
Its recommendations are generally vague, and can be summed up simply as “Government should remain vigilant but do nothing drastic at this time.”
The report’s main benefit however its overall summary of the industry, as well as its detailed description of how the spectrum is regulated by government agencies.
Click for original.
Its recommendations for the latter seem reasonable and based on strengthening competition rather than government control. For example, it details how many many constellations obtain a license for bandwidth from the FCC but then are very late in launching their satellite constellations, as noted by its graph to the right.
A key concern is whether these milestone requirements strike the right balance between facilitating market entry and deterring frivolous or infeasible applications. Some argue that these deployment deadlines are too lengthy and should be shortened, given the rapidly evolving ecosystem in LEO. Another consideration is whether enforcement of the buildout milestones is sufficient to offset the incentive for prospective satellite operators to apply and then later drop out if sufficient financing is not secured. The primary issue is how the FCC should distinguish systems that are legitimately trying to meet buildout requirements versus purely speculative or frivolous applications. The Commission has not yet tested how milestone waivers are to be handled, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper serving as one of the first cases to raise this issue. The ITU already has some precedent for handling waiver requests, which could serve as a reference point for the FCC.36
Introducing a higher up-front financial bond (for example, an escalating bond of $5 million or more post authorization) could serve as a stronger incentive to meet deployment milestones. Such a bond could be structured to release funds as verified buildout milestones are met. Conversely, failure to meet deadlines could result in partial forfeiture. This system would add accountability while giving applicants the opportunity to recover costs through performance. One of the potential downsides is that higher application fees or bond requirements may crowd out less well-funded startups and early innovators.
The report also suggests the FCC require a more incremental approach for these milestones, as well as introduce more firm scheduling requirements.
Overall, I recommend my readers take a look at this report. They will find it very informative.
Unfortunately, we won’t be the only ones reading it. The vagueness of some of its recommendations will allow every lobbying group in Washington, no matter who each represents, to quote this report for ammunition. Expect a number of government players, especially our camera-loving politicians, to use it to promote their own petty causes.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The “report” no doubt cost hundreds of thousands of dollars just to publish. The participants’ salaries no doubt amounted to an embarrassing large number. Please remember this every single time someone clucks about “children going hungry.”
I kind of like these sorts of (no doubt expensive) reports. The downside of being a libertarian, is that one needs to figure everything out for one’s self. Having (somewhat) independent outfits release reports is nice.
Just as an example, I received a (spam) email touting “CCOA certification”. Apparently, I need it, today (well, weeks ago when I received it). I don’t even know what it is or if anyone considers it worth anything. One needs some sort of “these certifications are out there and employers view them this way” report. Someone needs to write that – and getting paid to do so is not unreasonable.
There are kids going hungry–I’d prefer Americans have the money going to Argentina’s “investment”…like that plane full of cash that went to Iraq.
As far as this being a hit piece–that can always be the case.
There are advances that may reduce mass and thus re-entry worries–just today in fact:
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-giant-resistivity-reduction-thin-key.html
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-tuning-paves-future-wireless-radar.html
I wonder if inflatables (like ECHO or Raytheon AESA saucer concept) may play a role in telecom.
If super lightweight, perhaps beamed energy can push them aloft…Myrabo style.
To fill out the second chart, AST SpaceMobile has deployed five satellites and has delivered a sixth (this one a new, larger design) to the launch site, and SpaceX has launched 650 satellites in its planned MSS network.
But I’m surprised, Bob, at something you didn’t mention, because it has been a recurring theme on this site. Of the seven constellations who have launched production satellites to orbit, all seven were built as American constellations. The one listed under the United Kingdom, OneWeb, was originally American, fell into bankruptcy during the Covid financial panic, and was brought out of bankruptcy by the UK government because it wanted a sovereign system.
It appears that, for all their talk of the superiority of “third-way socialism”, the rest of the free world still lags behind. It is still America that leads the world in new endeavors. We must be doing something right. I wonder what that is…
mkent: I noted your point in the article headline, but you are correct, I should have underlined it within the essay itself. Freedom always wins, when we have the courage to let it it, and don’t hand our freedom over to loud-mouthed, power-hungry politicians.