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The Federal Communications Commission has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to expand the use of direct-to-device (D2D) communications. This would allow certain unlicensed devices to talk directly to satellites without requiring a specific license for that interaction.

Why it matters: This is a significant regulatory shift for the consumer electronics and satellite industries, but it is currently just a draft. If finalized, it would allow satellite operators to use existing unlicensed spectrum to connect directly to standard phones and devices, potentially expanding coverage in areas without cell towers. However, the technical details of how this will coexist with crowded unlicensed bands like Wi-Fi are still under debate.

Who it affects

  • Satellite operators planning direct-to-phone services

The Federal Communications Commission published this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register; readers should check the original document for specific technical details and comment deadlines before relying on it.

Agency: Federal Communications Commission
Source: Federal Register — read the official document

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