SpaceX Petitions FCC to Undertake a Higher EPFD Proceeding

SpaceX asked the FCC to start a proceeding to revise the U.S.' geostationary/non-geostationary orbit spectrum sharing methodology for NGSO fixed satellite service downlinks. In its petition Monday, SpaceX called the existing equivalent power flux density (EPFD) limits "critically out of date" and said they are "significantly overprotective of GSO networks." SpaceX cheered 2023's World Radiocommunication Conference calling for studies of higher EPFD limits ahead of WRC-27 (see 2312200046). But in its petition, SpaceX said studies "will leave American consumers waiting for years after they have already had their broadband service unnecessarily restricted for decades. The American people should not have to wait any longer." The petition said GSO operators have used the EPFD limits as a competitive cudgel, "sandbag[ging] Commission staff in licensing proceedings based on speculative claims of interference from NGSO systems [and using] these inefficient rules to prevent U.S.-licensed NGSO systems from entering new markets abroad." The agency should seek comment on short-term and long-term GSO protection criteria and identify realistic GSO links that can be used to demonstrate compliance with those short-term and long-term limits.