Publications
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Low Earth Orbit Satellites: Policies to Promote Spectrum Sharing, Foster Competition, and Close Digital Divides
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Background: Once seen as a technological dead end, low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites have become among the fastest-growing modes of communication. Advances in manufacturing, launch costs, and network design now allow large constellations to deliver high-speed and low-latency broadband worldwide, helping to meet surging demand for data-intensive and real-time applications.
But… As detailed in a new report published jointly by the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) and New America’s Wireless Future Project, the emerging LEO market is not purely commercial. Governments increasingly treat satellite constellations as strategic assets that can extend national influence and industrial capacity. Many leading operators rely on state investment or subsidies, blurring the line between open competition and geopolitical rivalry.
However… With more than 11,000 satellites already in orbit and many more planned, ensuring fair and sustainable competition has become a central policy challenge. As the sector matures, the ICLE-New America report urges regulators to focus on preventing market distortions, monitoring state-supported dominance, and developing adaptive tools that preserve innovation and open entry.
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Background: The digital divide remains a persistent challenge in both the United States and other jurisdictions, limiting the public’s access to education, health care, and economic opportunity in an increasingly online world. A new joint report from the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) and New America’s Wireless Future Project finds that low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites now offer a viable broadband solution to close remaining connectivity gaps, connecting unserved and underserved households that traditional networks struggle to reach.
But… Fiber has long been regarded as the gold standard for broadband due to its reliability, longevity, and scalability. Federal and state broadband programs have therefore prioritized fiber buildouts as the cornerstone of universal service efforts.
However… Fiber deployment is often prohibitively expensive in rural, remote, and geographically complex regions. The report highlights that LEO satellites should be viewed as a complementary element of the national connectivity toolkit, and better integrated into federal and state broadband programs in order to deliver fast, reliable service where fiber is not practical or cost-effective.
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Item descriptionBackground: The digital divide remains a persistent challenge in both the United States and other jurisdictions, limiting the public’s access to education, health care, and economic opportunity in an increasingly online world. A new joint report from the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) and New America’s Wireless Future Project finds that low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites now offer a viable broadband solution to close remaining connectivity gaps, connecting unserved and underserved households that traditional networks struggle to reach.
But… Fiber has long been regarded as the gold standard for broadband due to its reliability, longevity, and scalability. Federal and state broadband programs have therefore prioritized fiber buildouts as the cornerstone of universal service efforts.
However… Fiber deployment is often prohibitively expensive in rural, remote, and geographically complex regions. The report highlights that LEO satellites should be viewed as a complementary element of the national connectivity toolkit, and better integrated into federal and state broadband programs in order to deliver fast, reliable service where fiber is not practical or cost-effective.
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Introduction
Since the launch of Sputnik I in 1957, satellite technology has grown dramatically to facilitate connectivity, including broadcast, cellular service, and broadband internet access. Recent advances in satellite technology through low earth orbit (LEO) satellites present an emerging opportunity to provide both individual and enterprise users—particularly those in underserved or hard-to-reach areas—with low-latency, high-speed connectivity. To leverage LEO satellites to advance connectivity, industry, civil society, and policymakers at all levels must work together to address several challenges facing LEO satellite development and adoption, including (1) promoting a sustainable competition environment; (2) facilitating LEO satellite market entry and coexistence with streamlined licensing frameworks and efficient spectrum sharing; and (3) integrating LEO satellites into existing and future digital access and inclusion programs.