SpaceX Slams 12 GHz 'Astroturf' Plan That Dish Denies

SpaceX said Dish Network's allies in opening the 12 GHz band to 5G are the result of a Dish Astroturf campaign. In an FCC docket 20-443 filing Thursday, SpaceX said most if not all have direct financial ties to Dish or other multichannel video distribution and data service licensees. It never named the 5Gfor12GHz Coalition but used the word "coalition" more than once. Rather than opening the band to 5G, the FCC should promote rapid broadband deployment by "remov[ing] the MVDDS encumbrances that hamper next-generation satellite operators in the 12 GHz Band, and close the proceeding." Dish emailed that the filing is an "irrelevant screed." The company said it and other coalition members "submitted detailed scientific and engineering studies showing that coexistence in 12GHz is eminently possible and the significant public benefits of unleashing the band for 5G. DISH will let the science and engineering speak for itself."