This February, CCIA launched the Space & Spectrum Policy Center which promotes sensible policies to encourage new deployment and competition in satellite broadband. To kickoff the new center, CCIA released a report on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Broadband and held a panel on the Future of Satellite Spectrum, highlighting the potential of LEO satellite broadband and discussing how to achieve policies that foster a competitive LEO market and encourage deployment.
The panel was moderated by CCIA’s Director of the Space & Spectrum Policy Center Karina Perez and featured Mike French, Space Policy Group Founder & Boston Consulting Group Senior Advisor, Madeleine Chang, Director of Policy at the Satellite Industry Association, and Isaiah Wonnenberg, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the Commercial Space Federation.
All speakers agreed that LEO Satellite Broadband has great potential for bringing more people online, providing increased speed and services for internet connectivity, supporting national security and national science goals, and offering greater potential for many internet-enabled activities.
When discussing what LEO Satellite Broadband can provide, Mike French emphasized the impacts this technology has on a range of sectors.
“Improved latency and bandwidth unlocks a series of use cases we don’t think about as space-based ideas. The gaming market is approaching a half-trillion-dollar market, 100 billion market in mobile gaming, bigger than music and film industries combined by far. That is the kind of connectivity that something like improved latency and broadband can allow.”
Karina Perez and Isiah Wonnenberg both echoed this point, noting the many new use cases we could benefit from such as quicker weather information, which could translate to faster response times to disaster situations and greater disaster support.
Discussing the state of spectrum, Madeleine Chang noted that LEO space may get a lot more congested and appropriate spectrum allocation is vital to its success.
“There has to be reliable access to spectrum to allow for a dynamic marketplace within the commercial satellite industry. Satellite companies rely on consistent spectrum policy for investment for development because there are long timelines in satellite development. And so consistent spectrum policy across years is really important.”
All speakers agreed that this is a burgeoning market with technology that is still evolving, and to ensure success, the U.S. must develop a flexible spectrum policy structure that facilitates a competitive and innovative market.
Speaking on the challenges facing this market, Isaiah Wonnenberg discussed the current state of regulation where operators currently have to interact with multiple agencies, multiple regulators.
“ Making sure that policies and regulations and requirements are predictable consistent and transparent is of critical importance. What would be great is if the U.S. government could consolidate those oversight responsibilities, which would then create more regulatory certainty.”
Panelists agreed on the need for a flexible regulatory environment and raised the problem of orbital debris. Discussing the complicated nature of operating in this sector, panelists emphasized that space traffic management is a critical priority and coordination with regulatory bodies and other spectrum providers in LEO is key, but this is made more difficult through a harsh and cumbersome regulatory environment.
Touching on the importance of U.S. participation on the global stage, panelists supported continued participation in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and future World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC). Isaiah Wonnenberg emphasized that
“This is not simply about economic growth, development, or scientific innovation, the space industry is currently supporting U.S. national security and national science goals as well.”
Madeleine Chang agreed, stating
“It’s really important that we maintain leadership within the ITU, if the U.S. doesn’t continue to lead at the next WRC then the void will be filled by Russia & China.”
As CCIA’s own Karina Perez noted, “spectrum policy is space policy.” When considering the future of U.S. competition in this sector, national security, internet connectivity, and our space endeavors writ large, the industry and government need to work together to create a sustainable environment. Watch the full panel here.
