FCC commissioner warns U.S. influence on satellite spectrum debates could wane

ORLANDO, Fla. — A member of the Federal Communications Commission warned that declining American influence could make it harder to secure support for key satellite industry priorities at international conferences.

Speaking by video at the Economist Space Summit here Nov. 6, Anna Gomez, one of three FCC commissioners, said actions by the current administration have weakened U.S. “soft power,” creating challenges as the United States seeks support from other nations at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC).

“It’s really important for the United States to work with our international partners. Space is inherently international, so we just can’t go it alone,” she said. “We really need to work to get the rest of the world behind us in our positions.”

“I worry a little bit about this because the United States has been losing a lot of its soft power through the elimination of USAID, for example, and through the weakening of some of the institutions with which we worked to cooperate with other countries,” continued Gomez, the only Democrat among the three current commissioners. The U.S. Agency for International Development was effectively shut down by the Trump administration earlier this year.

That could affect international discussions about satellite-related spectrum issues at the next WRC, she said. “We have a very ambitious agenda for space” at that conference, including expanding access to spectrum for satellite applications, ensuring equitable access to that spectrum, protecting scientific uses of spectrum and improving international procedures for spectrum allocation.

“Our power is not based on our size when it comes to these meetings, and believe me, there are other countries that are not supporting us who are stepping into that void to befriend countries that have traditionally been our partners,” Gomez said. “It behooves us to work even more closely with our partners in order to garner their support and hopefully get consensus on our positions at these bodies.”

Asked for an example of an issue where U.S. influence may be waning, Gomez cited a debate at the 2023 WRC over increasing power limits for satellites in non-geostationary orbits. After extended debate, countries decided to study the issue further, delaying any decision until as late as 2031.

“China really worked very hard to counteract us on that matter, and they were successful in keeping us from being able to advance that agenda item,” she said.

“We need to keep in mind that we can’t just be isolationist or rely on our significant size and economic power,” she said. “We also need to keep our relationships with our traditional partners in order to be able to succeed at these meetings.”

Domestically, Gomez said she largely supports efforts led by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to improve satellite licensing processes. Carr declared October “Space Month” at the FCC, and the commission approved Oct. 28 a notice of proposed rulemaking to create a “licensing assembly line” for satellite applications.

“Something we needed to do is to look at how we can respond more quickly to these types of applications,” she said, citing the rapid growth in licensing requests.

“The one thing that I want to make sure of is that everything we do is for the benefit of consumers and that we continue to have a pro-competitive system,” she said, adding that competition drives innovation and lowers costs.

Gomez also voiced concern about the FCC’s shrinking workforce after buyouts and early retirements this year. “We are losing a lot of institutional memory,” she said. “We are stretched thin. We are definitely being affected by the reduction in workforces.”

“For us, it’s always a challenge to attract engineers. I think right now it’s doubly difficult,” she said. “We need to focus on making sure we have the staff we need in order to meet the moment.”