Over Some Opposition, FCC Staff OK SpaceX Satellite Broadband Plan
FCC staff Friday afternoon approved SpaceX's plans for satellite broadband, over some industry opposition that was dismissed. The company's Nov. 8 application to modify its previously authorized 4,425 non-geostationary orbit satellite constellation using Ku- and Ka-band spectrum is greenlighted. Now, the company with its Starlink satellites can cut the NGSO satellites to 4,409 in what staff called "a very small reduction in the number of satellites initially granted." That was deemed "a fundamental element in assessing whether there would be significant interference problems" from the change, as others contended there would be.
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Kepler Communications contended SpaceX’s using the Ku-band for gateway transmissions, as opposed to both Ku and Ka, would make it more likely the constellation will interfere with Kepler. OneWeb said adding Ku-band gateway links likely would "significantly increase interference to other NGSO" fixed satellite service operators. Others had concerns, too. Kepler and OneWeb didn't comment immediately. FCC staff weren't available to answer questions Friday evening.
This modification said it lets SpaceX make "efficient use of valuable spectrum resources more safely, quickly, and cost-effectively as it initiates a new generation of broadband services available to customers worldwide, including those in areas previously underserved or even totally unserved by other broadband solutions." The company said now it's targeting "no earlier than May for launch of a Starlink mission."
The order doesn't address a separate, related special temporary authority request from SpaceX regarding communications between its Ku-band earth stations and first batch of Starlink broadband satellites before they get to their assigned orbital heights. That STA request has also seen some pushback. For example, see 1904250002.
SpaceX in the new order must follow any future orbital debris rules, a condition it already faced. It "only partially satisfied the condition on its authorizations that requires SpaceX to submit, and have approved by the Commission, an updated orbital debris mitigation plan prior to initiation of service," said the order by International Bureau Chief Thomas Sullivan. That condition remains for satellites other than those that will be operated at an altitude of 550 kilometers as the company's modification sought. SpaceX sought to relocate to 550 km 1,584 satellites authorized for 1,150 km.
The satellite firm also must follow ITU rules, IB cautioned. "Operations of SpaceX’s system, as modified prior to the ITU’s finding, are at SpaceX’s own risk." SpaceX says ITU won't examine this proposal related to limits on equivalent power flux-density (EPFD).
The company must launch half the maximum number of proposed space stations, put them in assigned orbits and operate them under such authorization by March 29, 2024. It must do the same for the rest by three years later.
“This approval underscores the FCC’s confidence in SpaceX’s plans to deploy its next-generation satellite constellation and connect people around the world with reliable and affordable broadband service," said President Gwynne Shotwell. "Starlink production is well underway, and the first group of satellites have already arrived at the launch site for processing.”
SpaceX Notebook
ITU equivalent power flux density limit compliance is the only means of independently and conclusively verifying that proposed satellite operations would meet FCC rules, and SpaceX's request for a waiver of showing ITU EPFD compliance undermines the protection given to geostationary orbit satellite operators, said EchoStar and Intelsat in an IB posting Thursday. They said SpaceX's requested modification to its Starlink constellation plans and its related special temporary authority request don't address those concerns. SpaceX didn't comment Friday.