This paper provides an overview of satellite modem technologies and standards, and discusses how the Internet is driving the deployment of this technology. The major functional building blocks of a satellite modem are detailed, including an overview of the Application Specific Standard Products (ASSPs) that are typically used to implement the satellite interface. Finally, the paper illustrates how a Spartan device is used to implement complex system glue in a generic USB-interface satellite modem design. The Xilinx device families targeted at these high volume applications include XC9500 CPLDs and Spartan-II FPGAs.