No Quick FCC Action Seen on Amazon's Kuiper, Facing Opposition
Amazon's proposed Kuiper satellite mega constellation is facing pushback from satellite operators that took part in the 2017 non-geostationary orbit processing round, with arguments that it be considered part of a new non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) processing round. The FCC is…
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considered unlikely to act quickly. Satellite experts told us more U.S. mega constellation applications, such as by tech companies, aren't likely. Amazon looks "forward to continued engagement with the FCC regarding our application." The company's "focused on innovating on behalf of our customers," it emailed us Wednesday. "We are committed to realizing our vision for Project Kuiper.” There's "no big rush" for the agency to act, such as if Amazon were saying Kuiper's on a tight deadline for launches, said satellite consultant Tim Farrar. The FCC is likely to see how the NGSO environment shakes out in coming months, since proposed constellations may fall by the wayside, he said. Satellite Industry Association President Tom Stroup doesn't anticipate other NGSO constellation plans from U.S. operators. Amazon's ignoring or misreading FCC precedent when it argues rules make processing rounds moot for the frequencies it wants to share and it should have the same coordination rights and spectrum sharing abilities as the processing round participants, Telesat said this week in a petition to dismiss or hold in abeyance Kuiper's application. A new processing round would give the FCC a better record for issues that NGSO systems are raising, SpaceX said. Backing Amazon were the Video Game Bar Association and the eSports Bar Association. They said spectrum sharing Amazon proposes would help create a competitive market in satellite broadband.