FCC Chooses Relaxed NGSO FSS Interference Protections

The FCC opted for relaxed interference protection criteria for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) systems approved in different processing rounds despite opposition from some satellite operators. Approved Nov. 5, the order was released Friday, 10 days later. Its 5-0 approval was expected (see 2410040025). The 3% average throughput degradation long-term interference protection criteria was supported by multiple satellite operators, including SpaceX, but faced objections from OneWeb. The agency said it disagreed with OneWeb's contention that a 3% threshold would disincentivize coordination among satellite operators. Noting a lack of consensus among commenters about the appropriate short-term protection criterion, the FCC said SpaceX's proposal for a 0.4% absolute increase in unavailability metric more closely aligns with agency goals of regulatory certainty plus good opportunities for later-round entrants and competition than rival proposals did. The FCC declined to insert limits on aggregate interference in an NGSO FSS system. It said there was no demonstrated need for such limits, with 2029 the earliest when any second processing round system would be required to deploy its full constellation. The agency also rejected OneWeb's reconsideration petition on the sunset provision in the FCC's 2023 NGSO satellite spectrum sharing order (see 2307210037). It said for OneWeb and other first processing round systems, the 2030 sunset date -- 10 years after the first grant in second processing round in 2020 -- "relieves them of the uncertainty of near-term, equal sharing with new entrants intended by the sunset period."