FCC to Review of Spectrum Sharing Rules to Unleash Space Innovation

The Federal Communications Commission initiated a review of the decades-old spectrum sharing regime between different types of satellite systems. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted April 28 begins a formal proceeding to enable greater and more intensive use of spectrum for space activities in the United States. In this proceeding, the FCC will look to update those power restrictions for use of the workhorse satellite frequencies (Ku- and Ka- bands) that support the next generation of satellite broadband constellations in Low-Earth Orbit. FCC spectrum rules for these bands are underpinned by dated technical rules that were written for the satellite marketplace of the 1990s.