FCC Should be Slow to Block U.S. Market Access, Satellite Companies Say
The agency sought comment on the issue as the E.U. is considering new satellite legislation the U.S. opposes
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2026 – The Federal Communications Commission should be slow to deviate from its policy of allowing United States market access to foreign satellite operators, companies based in and out of the U.S. told the agency.
“Satellite services are inherently international and cross-border in nature, and high barriers to entry would only erode the social and economic benefits that satellite services deliver,” Luxembourg-based SES wrote. “Taking steps that would deter market access could undermine the very principles that have supported the decades of progress that has been made in reducing regulatory barriers.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr asked for input on U.S. firms’ access to foreign markets last month, partly in response to proposed legislation that European Union regulators are considering. The U.S. felt the EU's Space Act would unfairly target American companies like SpaceX, which dominates the low-Earth orbit satellite market, with extra restrictions.
