Report from Washington, D.C.
FCC Pushes New Satellite Regs, More Bandwidth
Written by: Molly Prochaska
October 28, 2025
Introduction | The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is clearing the way for mega constellations with proposals for streamlined licensing rules and more radio bandwidth. The new regulations could take hold as soon as early 2026.
Satellite operators got closer to faster licensing and access to new radio bandwidth, which could facilitate broadband operations, in a pair of unanimous votes Tuesday by the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC decisions kick off a 60-day comment and reply period before the agency can adopt a final set of regulations to govern satellite licensing and use of upper microwave bands by spacecraft.
Launched this year, Amazon’s Kuiper broadband satellites are among the constellations that could benefit from the FCC’s proposed streamlined licensing and allocation of more radio bandwidth.
The three commissioners who oversee America’s allocation of radio waves and licensing of transmitters praised the measures as tools to drive innovation and competitiveness in the satellite industry. “Now is the time for the FCC to add rocket fuel to its efforts,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
The licensing scheme is described by the agency as an assembly line approach that would allow batch licensing of large constellations rather than licensing for each satellite and ground station. It would also double the duration of satellite licenses to 20 years. “We would go from a bespoke process to an applicant-friendly assembly line,” said Commissioner Anna Gomez.
The new rules would also allow satellite operators more leeway for actions without FCC approval. Additionally, the rule would require all satellite operators to share space situational awareness data, a change that could help the Space Force and the Office of Space Commerce better track objects in orbit.
“This proposal is about unleashing American ingenuity,” said Commissioner Olivia Trusty.
Spectrum Sharing and Broadband Access
In a second proposal to lift the satellite industry, the commission advanced a rule to allow “more intensive use of spectrum in the 24 GHz, 28 GHz, upper 37 GHz, 39 GHz, 47 GHz, and 50 GHz bands.”
The bandwidth at issue is now reserved for mobile phones but could also serve as a pathway for satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband service. The Commission’s proposed rule would allow satellite firms to cut deals with other users of the radio frequencies. The upper end of the radio frequencies were the subject of 2019 auctions, which raised $7.6 billion. The biggest bidders in those auctions were telecommunications firms including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Named FCC chairman in January, Brendan Carr has pushed deregulation and streamlined rules. His new policy is dubbed “delete, delete, delete.”
The FCC move would allow the owners of those frequencies to sub-let them to space firms, allowing frequency sharing that could create a robust data pipeline in areas with little or no broadband service.
Carr said allowing mobile operators and satellite firms to share the radio frequencies would make the United States, “the regulatory forum of choice for space innovators.”
The commission is expected to incorporate public input on both regulatory changes before issuing finalized rules. Carr has championed deregulation in his term as chairman of the agency, calling his policy, “delete, delete, delete.” SpaceX is among the satellite firms that have offered praise for the commission’s stance on satellite bandwidth and licensing, stating the moves “represent a giant leap for American space innovation, with the potential to drive more efficient and rapid deployment of next-generation satellite services to consumers no matter where they live, work, or travel.”
Future Spectrum Considerations
The FCC is also examining more portions of the radio spectrum that could be used for satellites. The “Upper C” band, 3.9 GHz to 4.2 GHz, was announced as a target for wider satellite use in February. The proposal remains under consideration. The last C-band auction in 2021 drew a record $94 billion from bidders. The agency received approval for new bandwidth auctions in July as part of House Resolution 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill.” No date for new auctions has been set.
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