The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday voted to approve a proposal to auction 25 megahertz (MHz) of "golden spectrum" to support satellite-to-smartphone "direct-to-device" (D2D) services. This move is expected to benefit companies such as Amazon and SpaceX, both of which have already begun expanding their satellite network D2D services. The FCC will also vote on October 29 to seek public comment on another proposal to provide an additional 482 MHz of spectrum for space-based supplemental coverage and modernize D2D service rules. Furthermore, the FCC on Tuesday approved SpaceX's application for a new direct-to-cell system of 15,000 satellites. Amazon in July also requested FCC approval to launch 5,105 internet satellites to provide D2D connectivity and in August spent over $11.5 billion to acquire Globalstar to strengthen its low-Earth orbit satellite internet business.