Satellites will be crucial to the success of both efforts. Currently, most access to broadband in developing countries is through mobile phone networks. But that still leaves about 4.2 billion people without connectivity and 95% of those – who are connected without broadband connections. This is where satellites can play a role, especially in providing broadband connectivity to places where the ubiquitous coverage offered by satellites is often the only economically feasible means of enabling broadband access. To be the answer to the world’s tough connectivity challenges, the satellite industry faces significant challenges, one of which is regulation. Adapting regulations to ensure they don’t stifle new technologies is crucial. Greg Wyler once told me that is easy, policy is what’s “physics hard.” So it’s more important than ever that we at the FCC get regulation Both to ensure that satellites meet their full potential to provide the many essential services they have historically provided, as well as their new promise of expanding broadband connectivity, AND to ensure that spectrum is used in the most efficient way possible. To enable continued innovation in this industry, the FCC has worked very hard to ensure our satellite regulations are streamlined and reflect the reality of how satellites operate and are licensed here in the United States, and internationally. As we all know, one way you can prevent policy-making from being unnecessarily hard is for industry to be out front proposing regulatory frameworks that effectively reflect technological and economic realities. The comprehensive Part 25 streamlining last December provides a good model of how industry and regulators can work together to identify unnecessary or burdensome regulations, and develop practical, effective solutions. The FCC is committed to helping facilitate broadband deployment by satellites, and we will continue to work with SIA and its member companies to creatively develop policies, quickly process applications, and solve technical issues that will serve that goal. We all recognize that perhaps the most daunting challenge you face is a constrained spectrum environment how satellites will be able to coexist not only with each other, but also – with other uses. That brings me to the second FCC priority I previewed earlier: promoting the efficient use of spectrum and maximizing the value of this scarce resource. The Commission’s spectrum agenda is at a moment. Obviously, there has been a flurry of spectrum-related actions over the past several years at the Commission and the latest focus of our wireless agenda is the upcoming incentive –
Satellites will be crucial to the success of both efforts. Currently, most access to broadband in developing countries is through mobile phone networks. But that still leaves about 4.2 billion people without connectivity – and 95% of those who are connected without broadband connections. This is where satellites can play a role, especially in providing broadband connectivity to places where the ubiquitous coverage offered by satellites is often the only economically feasible means of enabling broadband access. To be the answer to the world’s tough connectivity challenges, the satellite industry faces significant challenges, one of which is regulation. Adapting regulations to ensure they don’t stifle new technologies is crucial. Greg Wyler once told me that “physics is easy, policy is what’s hard.” So it’s more important than ever that we at the FCC get regulation Both to ensure that satellites meet their full potential to provide the many essential services they have historically provided, as well as their new promise of expanding broadband connectivity, AND to ensure that spectrum is used in the most efficient way possible. To enable continued innovation in this industry, the FCC has worked very hard to ensure our satellite regulations are streamlined and reflect the reality of how satellites operate and are licensed here in the United States, and internationally. As we all know, one way you can prevent policy-making from being unnecessarily hard is for industry to be out front proposing regulatory frameworks that effectively reflect technological and economic realities. The comprehensive Part 25 streamlining last December provides a good model of how industry and regulators can work together to identify unnecessary or burdensome regulations, and develop practical, effective solutions. The FCC is committed to helping facilitate broadband deployment by satellites, and we will continue to work with SIA and its member companies to creatively develop policies, quickly process applications, and solve technical issues that will serve that goal. We all recognize that perhaps the most daunting challenge you face is a constrained spectrum environment – how satellites will be able to coexist not only with each other, but also with other uses. That brings me to the second FCC priority I previewed earlier: promoting the efficient use of spectrum and maximizing the value of this scarce resource. The Commission’s spectrum agenda is at a moment. Obviously, there has been a flurry of spectrum-related actions over the past several years at the Commission – and the latest focus of our wireless agenda is the upcoming incentive
DOC-338135A1.docx