The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing decades-old spectrum-sharing rules for Ku- and Ka-band frequencies, aiming to modernize technical limits for low-earth orbit constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper. The National Association of Broadcasters is pressing the FCC to proceed carefully, warning that geostationary satellites — the backbone of radio and television program distribution — could be put at risk.
“Legacy Ku-band GSO satellites continue to provide thousands of users, including many broadcast users, with critical applications,” NAB wrote in comments. It urged that GSO satellites retain primacy in interference cases and that broadband operators be required to act immediately to resolve problems. “Requests…require immediate response and must not be contingent on lengthy technical measurements,” the filing said.
The group criticized reliance on Adaptive Coding and Modulation as a solution, arguing ACM would require “return paths” from every downlink site, which generally do not exist, and warned it would degrade service quality. NAB also cautioned against unilateral U.S. action ahead of International Telecommunication Union studies, noting that premature FCC rules could have “global significance.”
The FCC maintains that current power limits, written in the 1990s, constrain broadband satellite services, limiting coverage, capacity, and signal quality. Chair Brendan Carr said regulatory barriers “represent the greatest limitation on modern commercial satellite capabilities” and pledged to clear obstacles to faster, more robust service. “My hope and expectation is that this effort will clear a path for even faster and more robust broadband services from space,” Carr said.
Broadcasters, while acknowledging satellite broadband’s promise, insist that protecting geostationary systems must remain the Commission’s priority to ensure reliable program distribution and uninterrupted service for audiences nationwide. The FCC’s comment period is closed, and the agency will now weigh feedback from NAB and other stakeholders.