FCC Sides With SpaceX's Starlink in Dish Network Spectrum Spat

pcmag.com:

In a win for SpaceX, the FCC unanimously voted to protect Starlink’s access to 12GHz spectrum from Dish Network’s efforts to use the same radio band for a ground-based 5G network. 

In a Thursday meeting, the commission voted 4-0 “to preserve spectrum between 12.2-12.7GHz for current and future satellite services."

“We recognize that millions of people rely on services in this band, and we want to see that continue,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said at the meeting. 

Since last year, SpaceX has been arguing that Dish’s attempt to use the 12GHz spectrum for a cellular network risks interfering with and making Starlink “unusable” for most Americans. The companies have been debating the matter in dueling FCC filings that supplied their own studies examining the matter. But in the end, the US regulator sided with SpaceX, saying it found the interference risks with Starlink to be legit.  

“Based on the studies filed, our engineers have concluded to date that high-powered mobile broadband, as we heard, when deployed throughout the country will interfere with established and emerging satellite services,” said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks.

“I would have welcomed a path forward that would allow both services to thrive, but for now it’s time for us to adapt,” he added. 

Indeed, the FCC’s own staff is indicating Dish Network failed to make a strong case that its proposed 5G network could co-exist with Starlink.

“Even if the 5G advocates agreed to use advanced techniques for interference mitigation, that would not solve the underlying problem that a new ubiquitous 5G terrestrial service poses a significant risk of harmful interference to DBS (direct broadcast satellite),” commission staff wrote in their report(Opens in a new