On April 30, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously to modernize its satellite spectrum-sharing rules, marking the most significant overhaul of these regulations since the 1990s.
The new framework (Report and Order FCC 26-26) replaces rigid, decades-old technical limits with a performance-based system designed to accommodate the rapid growth of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) mega-constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
The Shift from EPFD to Performance-Based Metrics
The centerpiece of the overhaul is the elimination of the Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) framework. Established in the late 1990s, EPFD rules were designed to protect traditional geostationary (GSO) satellites by placing strict caps on the power levels of NGSO systems. The FCC found that these limits were based on obsolete theoretical designs and significantly hampered the throughput of modern LEO satellites.
Under the new rules:
- Voluntary Private Coordination: NGSO and GSO operators are now encouraged to negotiate interference protections through good-faith, private agreements rather than relying on government-imposed power caps.
- Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM): The rules now account for ACM technology, which allows satellites to adjust their signal strength and data rates in real-time to mitigate interference.
- Seven-Fold Capacity Increase: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that removing these constraints could unlock a 100% to 700% increase in capacity for LEO broadband services, essentially allowing one satellite to handle the traffic that previously required seven.
New Technical Backstops
To ensure geostationary services—such as satellite TV (DirecTV) and legacy broadband (Viasat)—remain protected during this transition, the FCC established specific “backstops” that apply when private coordination cannot be reached:
- Throughput Degradation Limit: GSO links using ACM are protected up to a 3% time-weighted average throughput degradation.
- Unavailability Limit: A short-term protection criterion of a 0.1% absolute increase in link unavailability.
- Avoidance Angle: NGSO systems must observe a minimum 3-degree avoidance angle from the GSO arc to minimize direct signal interference.
Economic and Strategic Rationale
The FCC estimates that this regulatory modernization will unlock over $2 billion in economic benefits for the United States by closing the digital divide in rural and remote areas. The move is also a strategic play for international leadership; while the U.S. has lobbied the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for similar changes globally without success, Commissioner Olivia Trusty noted that adopting these rules domestically sets a “gold standard” for other nations to follow.
Mixed Industry Reactions
The ruling was met with “LFG!” (Let’s F***ing Go!) from SpaceX leadership and strong support from Amazon and the Commercial Space Federation. Conversely, GSO operators like Viasat and DirecTV have historically opposed the raising of NGSO power limits, citing concerns that higher interference levels could degrade service for their existing millions of customers. The FCC emphasized that “good faith negotiation is not optional” and that geostationary providers retain a right to protection under the new performance-based criteria.
Next Steps for Operators
With the rules officially adopted as of May 1, 2026, satellite operators must now begin the complex task of conducting “compatibility studies” to prove their systems meet the new performance-based criteria. The FCC’s Space Bureau will oversee these studies, ensuring that the increased power levels do not disrupt critical terrestrial radioastronomy sites or existing co-frequency services.
