FCC rejects SpaceX request, tells Elon Musk’s company: We dismiss, with prejudice, the portions of SpaceX’s various applications to …
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rejected SpaceX’s request to tap the 1.6/2.4GHz radio spectrum that Globalstar uses for its satellite services, including on Apple iPhones. The denial is part of the recent FCC order intended to set clear rules on how companies can use radio spectrum to power satellite-to-phone services. This is the same market into which SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Amazon-Globalstar are rapidly expanding into. SpaceX has long sought access to the 1.6/2.4GHz bands to bolster its satellite-to-phone service, Starlink Mobile. But in 2007, only Globalstar and Iridium were given exclusive access to the spectrum. SpaceX has argued that it can share the radio spectrum with Globalstar without causing interference. But in Thursday’s order, the commission said it found “no policy or public interest reasons to overhaul the current licensing framework.”The FCC noted it originally gave Globalstar and Iridium exclusive access to the bands to provide regulatory “certainty and stability.” The commission also noted that Globalstar has since invested in expanding its satellite services to power emergency messaging on Apple iPhones. It said, “Given the nature of MSS [mobile satellite services], including the ubiquity and portable nature of mobile devices, and the use of omnidirectional antennas, there are significant harmful interference challenges to incumbent users in allowing additional uses in these bands.” Similarly, FCC also rejected SpaceX request to use the 1.5/1.6GHz bands that Ligado Networks was originally authorised to use. FCC order said, “As a result, we dismiss, with prejudice, the portions of SpaceX’s various applications to modify its Gen2 Starlink constellation to add operations in the 1525-1559 MHz and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz band both inside and outside the United States91 and we also dismiss, with prejudice, the portion of SpaceX’s D2C Application requesting operations in these bands.92 With this action we also dismiss with prejudice the SpaceX Gen2 1.5 GHz and 1.6/2.4 GHz Modification application in its entirety.“
Here are excerpts of what FCC said in its order:
Pending Rulemaking Petitions. We dismiss, pursuant to section 1.401(e), SpaceX’s and Iridium’s petitions for rulemaking to modify the spectrum environment for the Big LEO bands. SpaceX requests that the Commission revise its licensing and spectrum sharing framework for the Big LEO MSS systems operating in the 1.6 and 2.4 GHz bands, in which Globalstar is currently licensed and operating.Iridium requests that the Commission revisit the Big LEO band plan specifically to allow Iridium to share more of Globalstar’s licensed spectrum at 1610-1617.775 MHz. SpaceX and Iridium make arguments that are similar. Each point to use of the subject bands by Globalstar and contend that the spectrum could be used more intensively by additional carriers.40 SpaceX requests a rulemaking to update the Big LEO sharing plan to reflect new technology and allow new entrants by initiating a processing round. This action, SpaceX asserts, will ensure that proposed systems achieve levels of operational and spectrum sharing capabilities for efficient use of the spectrum.SpaceX claims the Commission recognized the potential for the band to support multiple operators sharing and now needs to address how it will facilitate new entry and the corresponding rights of the new systems. It further asserts that the 1.6 GHz band is underutilized and that Globalstar only needs a small fraction of the band to grow its business. Iridium’s request is somewhat more discrete: it focuses only on the 1.6 GHz band and asks the Commission to update the band plan to allow Iridium to make use of more spectrum, and points to its current operations for evidence of how it makes use of spectrum efficiently to provide a variety of services. Like SpaceX, it cites the decisions made in the original 1.6 GHz band plan regarding the possible inclusion of up to four CDMA systems and contends that Iridium’s pressing spectrum needs justify modification of the current band plan.We find both petitions unconvincing. Neither has presented a sufficient basis to disturb the longstanding certainty and stability of the spectrum plan for Big LEO systems. As noted above, there are strong public interest policies for retaining the existing band plan.47 In addition, neither SpaceX nor Iridium, nor commenters who support the SpaceX petition, have provided sufficient justification to support a revision to the Commission’s decision in 2007.Rather, the petitioners and commenters make assumptions about allocations and system operations that are not fully explained. While Iridium argues that Globalstar’s planned system relies on dynamic assignment of narrowband channels which will facilitate sharing more easily than its current system, this statement is speculative and does not justify theopening of a proceeding.Globalstar, for its part, has provided evidence that it has made use of the spectrum, providing the first commercially available direct-to-device satellite services since 2022 through its partnership with Apple,50 the “SPOT” family of devices that provide emergency services to those without terrestrial wireless services, and IoT for a range of industries. Globalstar also submitted technical support to show that additional systems operating in the 1.6/2.4 GHz band would cause harmful interference to its system.
