In the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election and the changing of the guard at the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), there is still much unknown about the Commission’s policy objectives for the next four years. However, one little-known policy area deserving of attention is antiquated FCC regulations governing power levels for U.S. satellite systems. Modernizing these regulations is overdue and would improve industry innovation, encourage market entry, and provide regulatory certainty to companies already operating broadband satellite constellation networks. Consumers will benefit as a result.
Presently, FCC satellite regulations rely on a metric known as the equivalent power flux density (EPFD), which is used to calculate appropriate power levels for radio signals that are transmitted between satellites and ground equipment. Originally designed by the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the goal of these power limits is to protect geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite systems from signal interference from newer non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) systems. However, these limits have stood in the way of technological innovation and next-generation NGSO systems providing consumers with better coverage and faster service quality.
These FCC satellite regulations were adopted more than two decades ago, and much has changed with satellite technology in that time. GSO satellites—high-altitude satellites that follow an earth-centered orbit that matches the earth’s rotation—are no longer the only type of satellite on the block. Newer, more advanced NGSO satellites—including low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and medium-earth orbit (MEO) satellites—do not occupy the same stationary position as GSOs. This closer proximity allows them to provide better and faster service with lower latency (delays) than older legacy systems.
Companies like SpaceX and Amazon are already busy launching promising LEO satellite internet constellation systems like Starlink and Project Kuiper to provide high-speed internet to more people. These satellite systems have enormous potential to help close the digital divide since many Americans reside in remote locations that are difficult to reach using other technologies. For the same reason, these systems have the potential to serve as a viable alternative to other legacy technologies and connect communities much faster.
Read the full article here.
Nate Scherer is a policy analyst with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit us at www.TheAmericanConsumer.Org or follow us on X @ConsumerPal.