US FCC to vote on advancing new spectrum auction to boost 'direct to device' services
AMZN•The FCC will vote on October 29 on whether to advance a spectrum auction for direct-to-device services and will consider modernizing satellite-to-smartphone rules. The proposal includes auctioning 25 megahertz for direct-to-device operations and making another 482 megahertz available for supplemental space coverage.
1. FCC vote planned
The Federal Communications Commission said it will vote on October 29 on whether to advance a new wireless spectrum auction intended to boost direct-to-device services. It will also hold an initial vote on modernizing rules for those services and finalize rules allowing drone operations within the 800 MHz cellular band.
2. Spectrum proposals
The FCC is proposing to auction 25 megahertz of spectrum for direct-to-device operations and make an additional 482 megahertz available for supplemental coverage from space. The agency is also considering regulatory changes for terrestrial, satellite and hybrid business arrangements. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said upcoming wireless spectrum auctions over the next couple of years could generate more than $100 billion.
3. Satellite competition
Direct-to-device technology lets smartphones and other devices connect directly to satellites and is being developed by SpaceX and Amazon's Leo, among others. SpaceX acquired 65 megahertz of spectrum from EchoStar for $19.6 billion through two deals announced last year, and the FCC approved its plan to use the spectrum to expand its direct-to-device plans.
