1STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY
Re: WorldVu Satellites Limited, Petition for a Declaratory Ruling Granting Access to the U.S. 
Market for the OneWeb NGSO FSS System.
There has been much excitement about the next generation non-geostationary-satellite orbit 
(NGSO) systems.  If all the differing visions materialize, they will facilitate high-speed broadband 
connectivity to the hardest to reach portions of our country, enabling the offering of service to the 
unserved.  A few question marks do remain.  For instance, these systems are incredibly ambitious, 
involving a scale of satellite deployments we have not seen before.  OneWeb’s system calls for more than 
700 satellites and another entity, with a pending application, seeks to launch more than 4000 satellites.  
And, some of the NGSO systems planned in the V-band are even larger.  Will some of these systems 
come to fruition?  More than likely.  Will all of these systems be launched?  That seems like a stretch.  
Will we facilitate the development of next generation technologies and let the market and American 
consumer determine their success or failure?  That should certainly be our directive.  For this reason, I 
generally support today’s order.
However, those who read today’s item will be quick to notice that the scope of these systems has
raised many issues, such as preventing in-line interference and orbital debris, which will need to be 
considered further.  There are also multiple conditions on OneWeb’s approval.  For example, access to 
some frequencies could be restricted by future Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service 
(MVDDS) proceedings and our action today is conditioned on the outcome of the larger NGSO 
rulemaking.  This item highlights what needs to be addressed and, with any luck, we will resolve these 
proceedings as quickly as possible. Hopefully, our action today will provide NGSO applicants some level 
of certainty, permitting them to obtain investment and make future plans, but this item is more like a first 
step rather than the middle or final one.
Going forward, there should be a more holistic conversation and appropriate consideration of the 
complete picture of spectrum needs for both NGSOs and terrestrial use.  As I have stated before, the 
satellite and wireless industries continue on a collision course, both here and internationally, as they seek 
spectrum for future systems.  Generally, I remain concerned that we may be overlooking and foregoing 
opportunities for the clearing or sharing of spectrum by permitting additional uses on a piecemeal basis.