Several International Amateur Radio Union societies and more than 2,000 individuals have filed their concerns with the US Federal Communications Commission over a request by a US broadband communications company' to use frequencies between 430 and 440 MHz for a planned constellation of 240 commercial satellites.

AST SpaceMobile was recently approved for the use of the amateur radio band on an experimental basis for a low-earth orbit satellite known as FM1, which is the prototype for the company's planned mobile phone connectivity from space. The FCC has assigned the callsign WP2XRX, which expires on 1st July, 2027.

The Texas-based company, a rival of SpaceX, is developing its network in association with AT&T and Verizon. SpaceX is partnering with T-Mobile.

The Radio Society of Great Britain, referring on its website to its own filing to the FCC, said that the company's proposal for its constellation has stirred [quote] "an unprecedented response from the amateur radio community." [endquote]