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Tag: approval

  • SpaceX strikes B deal to buy EchoStar's spectrum for Starlink's direct-to-phone service

    SpaceX strikes $17B deal to buy EchoStar's spectrum for Starlink's direct-to-phone service

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX has agreed to acquire 50 MHz of wireless spectrum and mobile satellite service spectrum licenses from EchoStar for use in the Starlink satellite network.

    EchoStar will sell its AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses in exchange for $8.5 billion in cash and $8.5 billion in SpaceX stock. SpaceX said the deal would let it develop and deploy its “Direct to Cell” constellation, which it claims can provide broadband-speed internet access to mobile phones across the world. Of the cash, $2 billion will be made as direct cash interest payments on debt held by EchoStar.

    SpaceX last year received the Federal Communications Commission’s approval to go forward with plans to offer a direct-to-phone version of its Starlink satellite internet service, with T-Mobile as a provider. This spectrum purchase gives SpaceX more freedom to operate, without having to depend on other network providers as much.

    In particular, SpaceX said the new spectrum will enable “optimized 5G protocols” in its direct-to-phone service, once the next line of satellites is operational. The deal also gives customers of EchoStar’s Boost Mobile service access to Starlink’s direct-to-phone service.

    The deal was conducted under significant pressure from the FCC, which launched an inquiry into EchoStar’s utilization of its spectrum holdings in May, after public encouragement from SpaceX. According to Bloomberg, President Trump personally urged EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen to sell the spectrum licenses in the weeks that followed. On August 26, EchoStar sold $23 billion worth of spectrum licenses to AT&T.

    In a statement, EchoStar said it believes that, together with the AT&T deal, today’s spectrum sale to SpaceX will resolve the FCC inquiry.

    The spectrum deal effectively ends EchoStar’s own ambitions to build a direct-to-device satellite constellation. As part of the move, EchoStar simultaneously canceled a $1.3 billion contract with Canadian satellite maker MDA Space that was announced just five weeks earlier in August for 100 satellites.

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    SpaceX said Monday that the new spectrum will enable upgraded satellites with “more than 100 times” the capacity of first-generation Starlink direct-to-cell satellites.

  • EB-2 NIW Visa Requirements: How an Immigration Lawyer Can Strengthen Your Petition

    EB-2 NIW Visa Requirements: How an Immigration Lawyer Can Strengthen Your Petition

    If you’re a highly skilled professional looking to live and work in the United States, the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) may be one of your best options. This category allows applicants to bypass the traditional labor certification process by proving that their work is in the national interest of the U.S. However, qualifying for an EB-2 NIW visa is not simple—and that’s why legal guidance is so valuable.

    In this guide, we’ll walk through the key EB-2 NIW visa requirements, explain how to build a strong petition, and discuss why working with an immigration lawyer can be the difference between approval and denial.

    What Is the EB-2 NIW Visa?

    The EB-2 visa is for individuals who hold advanced degrees or possess exceptional ability in their field. The National Interest Waiver is a special provision that allows eligible applicants to request a waiver of the job offer and labor certification typically required for employment-based green cards.

    With the NIW, you do not need an employer to sponsor you. Instead, you self-petition by proving that your proposed endeavor has substantial merit and national importance—and that waiving the job offer requirement would benefit the United States.

    Basic Eligibility for an EB-2 NIW

    To apply for an EB-2 NIW, you must first meet the underlying requirements for the EB-2 category:

    1. Advanced Degree or Equivalent

    • You must hold a U.S. advanced degree (master’s or higher) or a foreign equivalent, OR

    • You must have a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) plus at least five years of progressive work experience in the field.

    2. Exceptional Ability

    If you don’t meet the advanced degree requirement, you may qualify based on exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. You must meet at least three of the criteria set out by USCIS, such as:

    • Academic records showing a degree in your field
    • Letters documenting at least 10 years of experience
    • Licenses or certifications
    • Salary or remuneration that demonstrates your exceptional ability
    • Membership in professional associations
    • Recognition for your achievements

    National Interest Waiver Requirements

    Once you qualify for the EB-2 category, you must satisfy a three-part test established by the case Matter of Dhanasar (2016). To win a National Interest Waiver, your petition must demonstrate: