Full Breakdown
SpaceConnect Association Launches to Advocate for NGSO Satellite Operators
6/25/2026, 11:12:00 AM
Formation of a Dedicated NGSO Trade Group
On June 24, 2026, Amazon, Iridium, Telesat and Globalstar announced the creation of the SpaceConnect Association, a Washington, D.C.–based trade group focused on non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) issues. The founders described the association as a vehicle to “unleash the full potential of NGSO systems for governments, businesses, and communities worldwide.”
Background: Gaps in Existing Industry Representation
All four founding members also belong to the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), which operates on a consensus basis. According to the founders, the SIA’s structure has limited its ability to take positions on NGSO-specific matters such as spectrum sharing and power limits, prompting the need for a separate voice dedicated to low-Earth-orbit (LEO) operators.
Leadership and Founding Membership
David Redl, former head of the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, was appointed executive director. He continues to serve as CEO of the Salt Point Strategies consultancy he founded. Julie Kearney, the first chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau, joined DLA Piper in 2025 and serves as general counsel for SpaceConnect. The association’s membership currently includes Amazon’s broadband constellation (367 of more than 3,200 satellites deployed), Iridium, Globalstar and Telesat, which is the only non-U.S. member. SpaceX, operating more than 10,000 NGSO satellites, is not a member but has been invited to join. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
Policy Priorities: Spectrum, EPFD, and Market Access
SpaceConnect will focus on several technical and regulatory topics:
- Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) and other spectrum-sharing mechanisms between NGSO and geostationary systems.
- Advocacy ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) scheduled for 2027, where global spectrum rules will be negotiated.
- Opposition to the European Union’s proposed Space Act, which Redl characterizes as protectionist.
- Promotion of open-market principles, responsible orbital stewardship and, eventually, inclusion of Earth-observation and other NGSO applications.
Official Statements & Responses
Redl emphasized that the association “represents a segment of the market” while acknowledging SpaceX’s size, noting that the group “is open to including SpaceX.” He also highlighted the need for a dedicated NGSO voice on issues where “NGSOs and other parts of the satellite ecosystem don’t necessarily have complete alignment on the things that would protect their ability to compete and to have access to open markets.” Kearney underscored the association’s intent to bring “deep expertise and a global perspective” to policy development. SpaceX declined to comment when approached for a statement.
Criticism & Opposition
Redl criticized the EU Space Act as “designed to foster protectionism for particular operators or particular nationalities of operators,” arguing that it threatens global market openness. The founders also pointed to the SIA’s consensus model as a limitation, stating that it “has been a gap in the current availability of trade associations to be able to advocate in the positions that they wanted.” No alternative viewpoints on the EU legislation were presented in the source material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “SpaceConnect will bring deep expertise and a global perspective to advancing policies that foster innovation while ensuring safe and responsible operations in low Earth orbit,” — Julie Kearney, General Counsel, SpaceConnect Association
- “As a trade association, we represent a segment of the market, and they’re certainly a big player in the segment,” — David Redl, Executive Director, SpaceConnect Association
- “The EU Space Act is a piece of legislation that is designed to foster the opposite of an open market, it’s designed to foster protectionism for particular operators or particular nationalities of operators” — David Redl, Executive Director, SpaceConnect Association
- “These companies saw a reason and a need to come together on issues like EPFD, where there was a gap in the current availability of trade associations to be able to advocate in the positions that they wanted.” — David Redl, Executive Director, SpaceConnect Association
- “They represent a big chunk of the conversation around NGSOs.” — David Redl, Executive Director, SpaceConnect Association
What’s Next
SpaceConnect plans to submit coordinated positions to the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and to continue outreach to SpaceX and other LEO operators. The association also intends to broaden its scope to include Earth-observation and other NGSO services as member interests evolve.
