The FCC’s Space Bureau (Bureau) has adopted an Order and Authorization, granting in part and deferring in part, with conditions, the application, as amended, of Space Exploration Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) to construct, deploy, and operate a constellation of second generation non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed-satellite service (FSS) satellites, known as SpaceX’s “Gen2 Starlink constellation.” The Bureau has also granted in part and deferred in part, with conditions, SpaceX’s modification application, as amended, to provide supplemental coverage from space (SCS) within the U.S. and to operate on certain frequency bands for the purpose of performing direct-to-cellular operations outside the U.S. using its previously authorized 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites.
The Bureau has deferred consideration of SpaceX’s request for a waiver of the aggregate out-of-band power flux-density (PDF) limit of -120 dBW/m²/MHz on SCS operations. Additionally, the Bureau has deferred SpaceX’s request to deploy additional Gen2 Starlink satellites beyond the total 7,500 satellites previously authorized.
