FCC Updates Spectrum-Sharing Rules for NGSO Constellations

Federal Communications Commission seal. Photo: Creative Commons license/jeanbaptisteparis via Flickr

The FCC voted to adopt a new framework for spectrum sharing among Non-Geostationary (NGSO) systems that Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said will promote efficiency, competition, and innovation. 

The new framework adopted during the FCC’s April 20 meeting will give operators clarity on spectrum-sharing between NGSO systems licensed in different processing rounds. 

The FCC’s new rules clarify that certain sharing procedures are limited to systems that were in the same processing round, and systems in later rounds will have to coordinate with and protect earlier systems. The FCC also included a sunset provision to promote competition in the industry. 

“We adopt a sunset on this spectrum priority that kicks in 10 years after a later-round system is authorized. Now the first movers will enjoy the advantage they’ve earned by daring to think big and take on that risk, but they won’t be able to hold on to that regulatory privilege forever. This will open our skies to more competition,” Rosenworcel said in a statement. 

The old framework incentivized operators to block competition from entering the marketplace, and to refuse to coordinate, Rosenworcel said, while the new rules put responsibility on all parties to “collaborate in good faith” and to exchange information. 

All FCC commissioners approved the rules. 

Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said in his own statement that he believes the new rules strike the right balance for operators that “provides stability and security on the one hand while accommodating serial innovation in a truly dynamic industry on the other.” 

This is the first satellite policy update from the FCC after it opened the Space Bureau to modernize satellite policy.