State Department Official Says US Facing Satellite Spectrum Challenges

Steve Lang, deputy assistant secretary of state, has warned that protecting U.S. satellite spectrum interests internationally will become more difficult in future negotiations.

He spearheaded U.S. efforts at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference, an event held by the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union every four years to discuss and amend radio spectrum allocation policy, including for satellites, SpaceNews reported.

At an American Enterprise Institute conference on Monday, Lang said the United States aims to create favorable conditions for non-geostationary orbit and low-Earth orbit broadband connectivity systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink. The U.S. agenda met opposition at WRC-23 from countries angling to lead the sector or ensure their national security, he explained.

Other nations expressed concerns related to the potential impact of large constellations on radio astronomy or the availability of orbital or spectrum resources for future systems. WRC-23 put such issues up for study, the results of which will be discussed at the 2027 meeting.

According to Lang, the U.S. ultimately saw progress in some priority areas during negotiations.