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FCC Chair Rebukes Amazon Over SpaceX’s One‑Million‑Satellite Plan

The FCC has not ruled on SpaceX’s filing or on Amazon’s requested deadline extension.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr speaks during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2025 Global Aerospace Summit in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 9, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
© Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons
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Overview

  • Amazon Leo urged the FCC to deny SpaceX’s request to authorize up to one million low Earth orbit satellites, arguing the deployment would take centuries and lacks a concrete plan.
  • FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Amazon’s objection is unlikely to gain traction and criticized the company for falling short of its own launch milestone.
  • Amazon has asked for a 24‑month waiver to shift a requirement to deploy roughly 1,600 satellites from July 2026 to July 2028, citing rocket availability and manufacturing disruptions.
  • The regulator is still reviewing SpaceX’s proposal for solar‑powered orbital data centers supporting AI, and critics note the filing omits key technical details needed to assess safety and operations.
  • Starlink operates roughly 9,000 to 10,000 satellites serving more than six million customers, while Amazon has launched just over 200 satellites so far.