WASHINGTON -- On February 14, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed that the agency approve an application by SpaceX to provide broadband services using satellite technologies in the United States and on a global basis.
SpaceX, best known as a space launch company, has proposed building a massive network of over 4,000 small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) to provide broadband data connections directly to consumers around the globe.
If the FCC follows Pai's advice, SpaceX would be the fourth recent company to receive approval for a satellite broadband network. Others to receive approvals for access to the U.S. market include OneWeb, Space Norway, and Telesat.
According to Pai, approval of the satellite plans are vital to bridging the digital divide in the U.S. In a statement, he said, "SpaceX's application-along with those of other satellite companies seeking licenses or access to the U.S. market for non-geostationary satellite orbit systems-involves one such innovation [required to bridge the divide]. Satellite technology can help reach Americans who live in rural or hard-to-serve places where fiber optic cables and cell towers do not reach. And it can offer more competition where terrestrial Internet access is already available."
Despite plans to launch experimental satellites for the system in its upcoming launch, SpaceX has made few announcements about progress on its communications network since it was announced in 2015. Elon Musk's company has been focused on developing the Falcon Heavy rocket and the human-rated Dragon capsule, leaving little time left to develop communications satellites as well.
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