In a major policy shift announced Thursday, April 9, 2026, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed that the Commission will vote on a new Report and Order to modernize satellite spectrum-sharing regulations.
The proposal aims to replace decades-old technical restrictions with a performance-based framework, a move that the FCC estimates could unlock over $2 billion in economic benefits and increase space-based broadband capacity by up to sevenfold.
This has been ongoing and agonizingly slow for the satellite operators waiting to make good on major investments in the pipeline.
The dispute centers on whether to modernize decades-old Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits—international standards designed to prevent Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites from interfering with legacy GSO networks. Read SatNews HERE
Overhauling the EPFD Framework
The core of the proposed regulation is the replacement of the Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) framework. Developed in the late 1990s, EPFD was designed to protect Geostationary Orbit (GSO) satellites from interference caused by Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations. However, the framework was based on theoretical NGSO designs that predated the advanced beam-steering and interference-mitigation technologies used by modern Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations.
The new rules would transition to modern, performance-based GSO protection criteria. This shift allows NGSO operators to increase their power levels while maintaining rigorous interference protections for legacy GSO fleets. The bands affected by this modernization include the 10.7-12.7 GHz, 17.3-18.6 GHz, and 19.7-20.2 GHz ranges.
Market Dynamics and Industry Resistance
The push for modernization has been a primary lobbying objective for SpaceX, which argued that legacy EPFD limits artificially throttled the speeds of its Starlink service. On January 12, 2026, the FCC granted SpaceX a partial waiver of these rules for its second-generation satellites, a decision that served as a precursor to this broader agency-wide rulemaking.
Despite the projected economic gains, the proposal faces strong opposition from established GSO operators, including Viasat, SES, and DirecTV. These companies contend that increasing NGSO power levels will create significant interference risks for their existing fleets. In filings submitted in March 2026, SES and DirecTV urged the Commission to retain the EPFD framework while merely adjusting specific limits, rather than discarding the system entirely for a performance-based model.
Strategic Rationale for Spectrum Reform
Chairman Carr described the current regulatory regime as a form of government-imposed overprotection that has hampered the delivery of high-speed, low-latency broadband to rural and remote areas. By shifting to a coordination-heavy regime, the FCC intends to allow NGSO and GSO operators to negotiate specific interference protections through voluntary, private agreements.
This rethinking of space spectrum is also part of the broader Build America Agenda, which seeks to reduce the number of satellites required to serve specific geographic areas by maximizing the spectral efficiency of existing constellations. Furthermore, US adoption of these rules is expected to provide a template for similar changes at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27).
Timeline for Final Adoption
The draft Report and Order is scheduled for a final vote at the FCC’s next monthly meeting on April 30, 2026. If adopted, the new rules will take effect following their publication in the Federal Register. The FCC will also seek comment on a second item regarding equipment authorization changes, which would require test labs and certification bodies to be based in the U.S. or countries with reciprocal trade agreements to bolster national security.
