Elon Musk at SATELLITE 2020. Photo: Via Satellite

Watchdog group Frequency Forward is calling for the FCC to deny SpaceX’s purchase of EchoStar spectrum and investigate Elon Musk’s business ties to the Chinese government. 

The group filed a petition to deny with the FCC on Oct. 30, over SpaceX’s $17 billion deal to buy EchoStar spectrum licenses to bolster its direct-to-cell services. 

“The FCC has a duty to protect our communications infrastructure from foreign influence and exploitation,” said Arthur Belendiuk, lead outside regulatory counsel for Frequency Forward. “This petition raises serious national security questions about whether Elon Musk, through his extensive financial and operational entanglements with the Chinese Communist Party, is subject to the direction or control of a foreign adversary.”

Frequency Forward was formed earlier this year as a public-interest advocacy organization to promote transparency at the FCC, expose conflicts of interest, and challenge foreign influence. A representative for Frequency Forward told Via Satellite the group is currently made up of volunteers. 

Earlier this year, Frequency Forward sued the FCC for not completing a FOIA request in a lawsuit related to DOGE, and it has also opposed the Sinclair sale of television licenses to the Rincon Broadcasting Group.

In its filing to the FCC, the group argues Musk could be subject to CCP influence because of Tesla, which operates the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory and has loans from Chinese state-owned banks. Musk is the CEO and largest shareholder in Tesla  “The CCP has the means and the motive to exert commercial and financial pressure on Tesla and thus by extension on Musk,” the filing says. 

It also points to court case testimony, covered by ProPublica, that SpaceX has allowed Chinese investors to purchase shares in SpaceX through offshore vehicles. 

“What rights do these citizens of a foreign adversary country have to control the day-to-day operations of SpaceX? These questions need to be addressed and answered before the FCC can allocate additional frequencies or grant additional licenses to SpaceX,” the filing says. “The FCC also must investigate if SpaceX’s current spectrum holdings pose a threat to the security of this country’s telecommunications infrastructure.” 

The petition calls on the FCC to pause SpaceX’s pending applications and determine whether Musk’s ties with China raise national security concerns. 

“This is not a speculative concern,” Belendiuk said. “It is supported by public records, congressional warnings, and Musk’s own business decisions. Before the FCC grants SpaceX any additional licenses or frequencies, it must hold a hearing and ensure that the company’s ownership structure meets the public interest standard required by law.”

SpaceX has not responded to a Via Satellite request to comment.