Federal Communications Commission	FCC 26-51

STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR

Re: 	Unleashing Unlicensed Spectrum for Direct-to-Device, ET Docket No. 26-169, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (August 6, 2026).

President Trump has made clear that he wants America to lead the world again in next-generation technology.  At the FCC, we have taken that call to heart and are working across a number of fronts to put America and our consumers back at the forefront of innovation.  One example is our ongoing efforts to unleash direct-to-device, or D2D, technology.  

D2D services will allow consumers to connect directly from their smartphone or other device to a low-earth orbit satellite.  No need for a standalone satellite dish.  That will mean instant and ubiquitous connectivity.  

Over the last 18 months, we have taken a series of steps to create the regulatory framework that will allow D2D to develop to the benefit of American consumers.  We have freed up spectrum for D2D use.  We have provided certainty about buildout milestones.  And we have offered clarity about exclusivity and legal rights so that providers have the incentives to invest billions of dollars.  Indeed, we have already seen tens of billions of dollars in deal flow for D2D offerings.

To foster the long-term evolution of D2D communications, today’s item looks ahead to an uncharted frontier.  For the first time in FCC history, we are exploring whether D2D services are technically possible in more than 200 megahertz of unlicensed spectrum.  These frequencies could yield more capacity to complement D2D services and encourage experimentation.    

Unlicensed spectrum already powers a range of household devices and important innovations, and our inquiry today asks a lot of questions that are designed to ensure these bands remain an American success story for existing and future services of all types.  We’re excited to see where the answers lead us.

Thank you to everyone who worked on this item, including Andrew Hendrickson, Michael Ha, Hugh Van Tuyl, Ira Keltz, Jamison Prime, Tom Struble, Stephen Duall, Tom Derenge, Kamran Etemad, Patrick Sun, Aleks Yankelevich, and Keith McCrickard.