US FCC to vote on advancing new spectrum auction to boost 'direct to device' services

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote on October 29 regarding a new auction of wireless spectrum aimed at advancing direct-to-device services. In addition, the FCC plans to hold an initial vote on modernizing its rules for direct-to-device services and finalize regulations for drone operations within the 800 MHz cellular band.

Direct-to-device satellite technology enables smartphones and other devices to connect directly to satellites, with companies like SpaceX, Amazon's Leo, and others developing this technology. In January, the FCC approved SpaceX's request to deploy another 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total to 15,000 satellites.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized the potential of direct-to-device technology to eliminate cell phone dead zones and provide service directly from next-generation satellite constellations to smartphones. The FCC is proposing to auction 25 megahertz of key spectrum for direct-to-device operations and make an additional 482 megahertz available for supplemental coverage from space.

SpaceX acquired 65 megahertz of wireless spectrum from EchoStar for $19.6 billion, giving Starlink airwaves to expand into mobile services. The commission recently approved SpaceX's plan to use new spectrum acquired for its direct-to-device plans.