Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said that he seeks to simplify the approval process for satellites below 400 pounds during a Chamber of Commerce event, FCW reported Tuesday. Pai noted that small satellites have the potential to expand broadband access to undeserved areas and that the streamlined application process will promote better spectrum use while also mitigating radio frequency interference.
“I see no reason why a satellite the size of a shoebox, with the life expectancy of a guinea pig, should be regulated the same way as a spacecraft the size of a school bus that will stay in orbit for centuries,” he added.
Previously, the Department of Defense and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have raised concerns over how the FCC’s 5G spectrum plans may impact weather satellite data transmission.
