Spectrum, Satellites, and Subsidies: Telecommunications Decision Points in 2023 (with Michael O’Rielly)

Myriad questions are swirling around telecommunications policy at the outset of this year. Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper are heating up the discussion surrounding Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet. The FCC’s ability to auction off spectrum is up for reauthorization on March 9th, securing a vital asset for the regulatory body to disburse. And massive sums of money are being made available for broadband expansion, but with serious uncertainty on how to effectively use it. But how can we safeguard good governance over the technology that enables us to communicate so easily over such great distances in these important moments? To help identify such strategies, we are joined by Michael O’Rielly, former FCC Commissioner, telecommunications consultant, and public servant.

In this episode, Shane reminds us that “free” doesn’t mean no one is paying, that auctions matter, and that satellites are more than rocket science—among many other things. Tune in as they separate the signal from the noise on telecommunications policy!