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President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend tapped Brendan Carr to lead the Federal Communications Commission, a move that could have extraplanetary implications.
The appointment bodes well for Trump ally Elon Musk, who could face a friendlier regulatory environment for Starlink satellite launches under Trump rule, despite increasing concerns from scientists about environmental damage from satellites.
Carr, who was appointed to the commission by Trump in 2017, currently serves as the senior Republican at the agency and authored a Project 2025 chapter on how the FCC should operate under a second Trump term.
Carr wrote in the Project 2025 document that he hopes to “advance America’s space leadership,” in part by speeding up FCC review and approval of satellite launches.
“I would say he’s very diligent, very committed to a project that he sinks his teeth into,” Michael O’Rielly, a former FCC commissioner who worked alongside Carr from 2017 to 2020, told Tech Brew.
But while there’s been plenty of chatter about what Carr’s appointment means for Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink, O’Rielly said Musk’s potential influence is not necessarily “a leg up” and noted the FCC was already focused on space.
“I don’t think it’s just because of [Musk],” O’Rielly said. “I think it’s because he’s got an innovative offering that actually provides a service that people want, and then more satellite competition is going to be beneficial for everyone.”
Under the Biden administration, the FCC upheld the rejection of an $885 million broadband subsidy for Starlink, a decision Carr called “regulatory harassment” toward Musk.
But the FCC is not at a standstill until Inauguration Day: Last week, the FCC announced revised satellite spectrum rules.
“The FCC has made real progress to modernize its space policies to ensure US leadership,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “Today’s update to our satellite spectrum sharing rules allows first movers to enjoy the advantage they’ve earned by daring to think big and take on risk, while also opening our skies to more competition.”