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As broadband services and applications continue to gain strength within the U.S. market, service providers increasingly are looking toward the long-term sustainability for satellite-enabled offerings–offerings that are many times dictated by spectrum allocation decisions made in Washington, D.C. “We need to continue to make available more spectrum for emerging technologies that will enable the next-generation broadband services for commercial and government use,” said John Kneuer, acting assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). “As we further develop policies for broadband use to the rural regions of the Untied States, there will be even more increased opportunities for satellite service providers to gain more market share,” he added.

Kneuer made his remarks during yesterday’s Washington Space Business Roundtable Luncheon in downtown Washington, D.C. “The satellite industry has already taken the risks by establishing services and today, with new entrants like Wildblue and Inmarsat‘s BGAN service, the market is changing and more advanced applications are entering the user communities.”

As acting assistant secretary, Kneuer is the U.S. President’s principal adviser on telecommunications policy as he oversees and directs NTIA. One of his main objectives is to stay on top of technology’s cutting edge critical issues while promoting market-based spectrum-based technology policies that lower prices to consumers, encourage innovation and work with government resources. Kneuer cited developments in the Wi-Fi arena as a viable market for satellite technology, not only for backhaul services, but also for transmitting to those areas where terrestrial services are not built out.

Another area where more satellite technology is needed resides in the first responder/disaster recovery sector. “We are working to ensure that interoperability of communications services from state and local officials include an increase of satellite communications technology,” Kneuer said, adding that some progress has been made in making satellite services a more critical part of emergency response units since last year’s hurricane season, but more needs to be done. “There has been and increase in discussions regarding the role satellite should play for disaster recovery communications. There has been some headway on the state and local level.”

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