Home / Technology / FCC Chief Slams Amazon Over SpaceX Satellite Plan
FCC Chief Slams Amazon Over SpaceX Satellite Plan
11 Mar
Summary
- FCC chairman publicly criticized Amazon for opposing SpaceX's satellite deployment.
- Amazon's own satellite project, Leo, faces significant delays and has few satellites.
- SpaceX accuses Amazon of hindering competitors while failing to meet its own deadlines.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly criticized Amazon's opposition to SpaceX's orbital data center plan. Carr highlighted that Amazon's competing project, Leo, has experienced significant delays and currently has only about 200 satellites in orbit, falling short of a crucial July deadline.
Carr took to social media to state that Amazon should address its own deployment shortfall rather than filing objections against SpaceX's larger orbital deployment. This public criticism from the FCC chairman is unusual for pending satellite applications and could raise questions about potential bias.
Amazon has argued that SpaceX's plan lacks technical detail and could grant the company a substantial advantage in satellite orbits. Despite these concerns, Amazon itself has requested an extension or waiver for its Leo system's first-generation deployment deadline.
SpaceX has countered Amazon's criticisms and requests for leniency, arguing the FCC should not grant special treatment. SpaceX has pointed out that Amazon has launched only a small fraction of its approved satellites over six years while attempting to block competitors' extensions.
