The FCC on Thursday voted to adopt a new framework for Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD), which governs spectrum-sharing between GEO and NGSO systems. EPFD limits have been a hot-button issue in the satellite industry.
Many organizations applauded the FCC for taking action, while multiple Geostationary Orbit (GEO) operators asked the FCC in recent days for changes or clarifications to the order.
All three FCC commissioners voted to adopt the order during the commission’s meeting on April 30.
Commissioner Olivia Trusty said in remarks that while previous rules may have been well-intentioned, the limits constrained innovation.
“It promotes more effective spectrum sharing by moving beyond rigid EPFD limits in the Ku- and Ka- downlink bands and toward a framework grounded in good faith coordination, coupled with clear short- and long-term protection criteria. This approach better balances the need for NGSO systems to expand capacity, with appropriate safeguards for ongoing GSO operations,” Trusty said during Thursday’s FCC meeting.
The FCC cited these changes could lead to a seven times increase in capacity for space-based broadband and allow for faster speeds and lower costs for consumers.
According to the FCC, the order adopts performance-based Geosynchronous (GSO) protection criteria and expects good faith negotiation between satellite operators to exchange technical information and coordinate.
Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) operators SpaceX and Amazon pushed for and applauded the change. A number of other organizations including the Commercial Space Federation, Open Technology Institute at New America, and Progressive Policy Institute were in favor of the change.
A number of GEO operators expressed concern with the draft order once it was released earlier this month.
Among the requests: DirecTV urged the FCC to increase the minimum GSO arc avoidance angle, and Astranis requested additional reference links to make sure its operations are protected. SES asked the FCC to issue an additional notice of proposed rulemaking to address an aggregate limit on total NGSO-GSO interference, a request that Eutelsat supported as well.
This change from the FCC moves ahead of international regulation at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which has not taken action on these limits.
EPFD limits were a contentious issue at WRC-23 spectrum conference, where Amazon and SpaceX urged the conference to adopt a future agenda item to study and potentially update the rules, while some GEO operators and countries strongly opposed this, arguing it would disrupt services from GEO. The outcome was that EPFD limits are not on the formal agenda for WRC-27. There will be studies through 2027, but they are not intended for regulatory action to be taken at WRC-27.
Trusty said during the FCC meeting that she’s “optimistic” that the “real world results [this change] enables will strengthen our hand at advancing global spectrum harmonization through the ITU process.”
