The FCC updates the regulations for NGSO FSS satellites as they get ready for a new era

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its regulations for spectrum sharing among non-geostationary (NGSO) fixed-satellite service (FSS) constellations, which was long overdue. An Open Commission Meeting on 20 April 2023, approved a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that defines the NGSO FSS systems‘ protection responsibilities. By providing revised guidelines to the industry that will improve regulatory certainty for both existing NGSO FSS systems and new entrants, the FCC hopes to promote the deployment of the next generation of satellites, many of which will be utilised to provide broadband services.

All current holders of NGSO FSS licenses and market access grants, as well as all pending and future applicants and petitioners, will be subject to these modifications. The decision’s expansive breadth applies to every operator who has an application that is currently ongoing, as well as any licensed operator who has not yet secured a coordination agreement with other operators.

Although the FCC stated that information sharing would be a part of the requirement for good faith coordination, the agency did not specify in detail what information, if any, must be shared.