The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding its rules and policies governing satellite services, prompted by a planned new generation of large, non-geostationary-satellite orbit (NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems. The Commission plans to update, clarify, and streamline its rules to facilitate the deployment of these NGSO FSS systems, which have the capability to provide services, including Internet access, to underserved communities worldwide. The Commission also proposed updating certain rules governing operation of FSS space stations in the geostationary-satellite orbit (GSO) to enable greater operational flexibility. Comments on the NPRM will be due 45 days after the item is published in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred. Reply Comments will be due 75 days after the item is published in the Federal Register.
