ICLE Encourages FCC to Approve Amazon Leo’s Satellite-to-Phone Application
PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 23, 2026) — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should approve Amazon Leo’s plan to connect compatible phones directly to satellites, the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) said in comments filed today. Approval would give consumers another connectivity option and support competition in a market where building a satellite network takes billions of dollars and years of work.
Amazon Leo plans to launch 5,105 satellites for direct-to-device service. If Amazon’s pending purchase of Globalstar closes, the companies could combine Globalstar’s operating network and licenses to use satellite radio frequencies with Amazon Leo’s planned system. That could expand service using frequencies already assigned for satellite communications.
ICLE urged the FCC to grant limited exceptions to its rules where the agency can still fully review the technology and protect existing services. The FCC can address documented interference risks—where one network disrupts another—through targeted conditions and coordination between operators.
“Building a satellite network takes years and enormous investment. A credible new provider could give consumers and mobile carriers another choice,” said Kristian Stout, ICLE director of innovation policy. “The FCC should address real interference concerns and decide the application promptly.”
To arrange an interview with Stout, contact ICLE Director of Communications Jim Fellinger at [email protected]. Download ICLE’s full comments.
About ICLE
The International Center for Law & Economics is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center working with a roster of more than one-hundred academic affiliates and research centers from around the globe. ICLE scholars promote the use of law and economics methodologies to inform public policy debates.