STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY Re: Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion with Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations, IB Docket No. 18-315. Almost two months ago, the Commission adopted rules to permit Earth Stations in Motion, commonly referred to as just ESIMs, to communicate with geostationary satellites, or GSOs. Now, the Commission takes the next step by considering whether our ESIMs rules should be expanded to allow communications with non-geostationary orbit satellites, or NGSOs. As a firm proponent of technology neutrality, I applaud today’s efforts to start a proceeding to consider allowing ESIMs to operate in concert with the growing number of NGSO constellations. However, with thousands of NGSO satellites connecting to thousands of moving objects, whether they be planes, ships or cars, these operations are likely to be more than a bit challenging. All parties must be engaged on these complexities to ensure that these systems are used to benefit American consumers and industry. I especially want to make sure that we consider how all these connections can exist without one system causing harmful interference to another within the same band. For this reason, I appreciate that the item now solicits information, at my request, about the potential for in-line interference, created by NGSO systems communicating with ESIMs. I approve.