FCC Grants Amazon Waiver on 1,616-Satellite Project Leo Deadline

3 articles · Updated · Cord Cutters News · Jun 6

Amazon won FCC relief from a July 30 requirement to have about 1,616 of its 3,232 first-generation Project Leo satellites launched and operating, avoiding a risk to the spectrum license needed for service rollout.
Only about 330 satellites are currently in orbit, so the waiver preserves the summer launch plan while keeping the full first-generation deployment deadline unchanged at July 30, 2029.
The FCC tied the extension to a penalty: Leo satellites launched after July 30, 2026 lose priority status in spectrum-coordination disputes until Amazon reaches the 50% milestone, or automatically by March 30, 2028.
Amazon can restore that priority as early as Oct. 30, 2027 by certifying the needed satellites are built and launch slots secured; a June 17 Arianespace mission is set to add 36 satellites.
Regulators said the move serves the public interest by preserving a second major low-Earth-orbit broadband competitor for underserved U.S. areas while still enforcing interference and deployment safeguards.