Amazon, Iridium, Telesat, and Globalstar Form First-of-Its-Kind Trade Group to Advocate for Non-Geostationary Satellite Policy, Spectrum Access, and Orbit Sustainability
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a structural consolidation of lobbying power for the low- and medium-Earth orbit satellite economy, four of the industry’s largest non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) operators today announced the formation of the SpaceConnect Association.
The new Washington, D.C.-based trade association—backed by Amazon, Iridium, Telesat, and Globalstar—will serve as a unified global advocacy group for the modern NGSO market. Operating as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, it marks the first trade association dedicated strictly to the legal, regulatory, and spectral interests of non-geostationary constellations as they challenge legacy geostationary networks.
Heavyweight Regulatory Leaders Take the Helm
To navigate an increasingly complex international regulatory landscape, the founding coalition has tapped two high-profile U.S. telecom policy veterans to spearhead the organization:
- David Redl (Executive Director): The former administrator and head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Redl will guide the association’s global policy, government engagement, and market access strategies.
- Julie Kearney (General Counsel): The historic first Chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recently formed Space Bureau. Kearney will oversee regulatory filings, orbit stewardship policies, and spectrum compliance frameworks.
The leadership lineup signals that SpaceConnect plans to move aggressively on international spectrum disputes, regulatory backlogs, and space traffic management frameworks.
Challenging Legacy Rules: The NGSO Policy Mandate
The launch of SpaceConnect arrives at a critical geopolitical and regulatory juncture for space-based communications. As mega-constellations rapidly scale, international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and national regulators like the FCC are writing the rules that will govern space traffic, debris mitigation, and frequency sharing for decades to come.
Historically, space regulations were optimized for stationary, high-altitude geostationary (GEO) satellites. SpaceConnect intends to push for a complete overhaul of these frameworks, arguing that legacy rules inhibit the deployment of low-latency, software-defined NGSO networks.
“NGSO satellite systems are transforming the way the world connects, creating new opportunities for economic growth, national security, and global innovation,” noted David Redl, Executive Director. “SpaceConnect will be a strong, unified voice advocating for modern, forward-looking policies that reflect the unique capabilities of NGSO technologies. As governments around the world make critical decisions about spectrum, market access and space stewardship, we are committed to working with policymakers and stakeholders to enable a competitive, secure and resilient connectivity ecosystem.”
Streamlining the Global License Backlog
A primary administrative bottleneck for NGSO operators remains the lengthy, often combative licensing processes required to operate over foreign territories. General Counsel Julie Kearney emphasized that updating these archaic processing timelines will be central to the group’s legal mission.
“The policy and regulatory frameworks governing space communications should reflect the pace of innovation,” Kearney stated. “By advocating for updated licensing processes, efficient spectrum access and industry-led best practices, we aim to help unleash the full potential of NGSO systems for governments, businesses, and communities worldwide.”
By presenting a unified front, the founding members—Amazon (currently deploying its multi-billion dollar Project Kuiper), Iridium, Telesat (building its Lightspeed network), and Globalstar—aim to wield massive combined leverage. Their goal is to ensure that future infrastructure funding, defense connectivity frameworks, and space sustainability standards are heavily optimized around the low-latency, high-throughput advantages of the non-geostationary economy.
