I've got three items today:
#1. California-based Reflect Orbital wants to deploy satellites covered in mirrors to produce "sunlight on-demand" at night in order to boost solar power production during peak-use morning and evening hours. If the FCC approves this project, Reflect Orbital plans to release up to 50,000 satellites into Earth's orbit by 2035. By reflecting the sun's rays onto Earth at night, they could illuminate an area wider than Manhattan. These satellites could damage animals (including humans) and plants that need darkness to thrive and disrupt birds' migratory patterns. Since roughly half of insect species are nocturnal, it could severely disturb their life cycles as well.
The deadline to submit a Comment on Reflect Orbital's application is TODAY, March 9. Tell the FCC to reject Reflect Orbital's satellite plans. Even a brief comment helps. Some people are requesting a minimum 30-day extension to the comment period and also for comments about SpaceX's request to deploy data centers in space (comments were due March 6).
For instructions on how to submit a comment to the FCC:
Click Here For information about the mirrored satellites:
References:
1. "Sunlight after dark," Reflect Orbital, last accessed February 17, 2026.
2. Ellen Montgomery and Lauren Arnold, "How "sunlight on demand" could erase darkness," Environment America, February 16, 2026.
3. Ellen Montgomery and Lauren Arnold, "How "sunlight on demand" could erase darkness," Environment America, February 16, 2026.
4. Kyle Horton, "How light pollution can imperil migrating birds by luring them into cities," PBS, December 17, 2023.
5. Ellen Montgomery and Lauren Arnold, "How "sunlight on demand" could erase darkness," Environment America, February 16, 2026.
#2. In the wake of the California Public Utility's Commission's issuance of its Carrier of Last Resort and Network Modernization Staff Proposal (R.24-06-012), the recognized parties' Comments and their Reply Comments on the Proposal, it is critical that the public submit new comments to the COLR docket. Reiterate your personal needs for a reliable, safe, good-voice-quality landline. Remind the CPUC how landline degradation or loss would affect (or already has affected) your life or that of family, neighbors, friends. Point out one or more critically-needed revisions in the CPUC Staff Proposal itself (See SAMPLE COMMENTS below).
Click Here [still active as of 3/12/26--ed] Click on Public Comments at the top. Read comments from landline customers and advocates across California.
Click on Add Public Comment to type your own (or copy/paste from text you have previously composed). Note: the site will squish your format into one paragraph, so no need to beautify as if your prose is aimed at your English teacher!
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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