FCC to Vote on Overhauling Satellite Spectrum Rules That Could Boost LEO Broadband Capacity Sevenfold
The FCC will vote April 30 on replacing 1990s-era power limits for LEO satellite constellations, a move that could reshape competition between Starlink, Amazon Leo, and legacy operators.
Overview
The Federal Communications Commission will vote on April 30 on a sweeping overhaul of satellite spectrum-sharing rules that have governed the industry since the late 1990s. The proposed order would replace rigid Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits with a performance-based framework, potentially unlocking up to seven times more capacity for low-Earth orbit broadband constellations. The decision arrives as Amazon prepares to launch its Leo satellite internet service in mid-2026 and SpaceX continues to expand Starlink, intensifying a contest that legacy geostationary operators fear will tilt further against them.
What Is Changing
The EPFD framework was established by the International Telecommunication Union in the 1990s to protect geostationary orbit (GSO) satellites from interference caused by non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) systems. At the time, LEO broadband constellations like Starlink did not exist, and the rules were designed around satellite architectures that predate modern beam-steering and interference-mitigation technologies, according to SatNews.
The proposed order would replace those fixed power caps with performance-based protection criteria across three frequency bands: 10.7-12.7 GHz, 17.3-18.6 GHz, and 19.7-20.2 GHz, according to Broadband Breakfast. Rather than prescribing how LEO systems must operate, the new framework would evaluate whether they degrade GSO service beyond defined thresholds, emphasizing private coordination agreements between operators backed by technical safeguards.
The practical effect could be significant. Under the new rules, up to eight satellites could serve a single geographic area simultaneously instead of one, potentially increasing capacity sevenfold without requiring additional launches, according to RCR Wireless.
Who Benefits
SpaceX, which filed a waiver petition in August 2024 describing the existing EPFD limits as rules that “significantly over-restrict next-generation satellite systems,” stands to gain the most immediate benefit, according to RCR Wireless. The company already received a partial EPFD waiver on January 12, 2026, for its second-generation Starlink satellites, according to SatNews. A broader rule change would extend those benefits across the entire constellation.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly backed the proposal, stating it “could see billions of dollars in benefits for the American economy,” according to RCR Wireless. The FCC estimates the modernization could unlock over $2 billion in economic benefits, according to SatNews.
Amazon Leo would also benefit. CEO Andy Jassy confirmed in a shareholder letter that Amazon’s satellite internet service is scheduled to launch in mid-2026, with 241 satellites currently in orbit and a target of 3,232 for the full constellation by July 2029, according to Broadband Breakfast. Amazon has claimed Leo will offer download speeds about two times better on downlink and six to eight times better on uplink compared to current alternatives, according to Broadband Breakfast. Relaxed spectrum rules would help both operators deliver on those performance promises.
As previously reported, Amazon has also asked the FCC for a two-year extension on its initial deployment deadline, which required 1,618 satellites in orbit by July 2026. The company currently has roughly 241 satellites deployed.
Who Opposes
The proposal faces strong resistance from legacy GSO operators. Viasat, SES, and DirecTV have all raised interference concerns, contending that increased NGSO power levels create significant risks for their existing fleets, according to SatNews. SES filed a petition in December citing increased interference risks and EPFD level fluctuations, according to RCR Wireless. These operators have urged the FCC to retain the EPFD framework with adjusted limits rather than replacing it entirely, according to SatNews.
The concern is not purely technical. GSO operators have invested billions of dollars in infrastructure predicated on the existing interference protection regime. A shift to performance-based standards and private coordination agreements could leave them with less regulatory recourse if LEO constellations cause degradation to their services.
What We Don’t Know
Several questions remain ahead of the vote. The rules, if adopted, apply only to U.S. regulations, according to Broadband Breakfast. International EPFD limits set by the ITU would remain in force, meaning LEO operators may still face restrictions outside the United States. Whether other regulators follow the FCC’s lead or maintain legacy protections will determine how much of the capacity gain materializes globally.
It is also unclear whether cost savings from increased efficiency will reach consumers. While the FCC frames the proposal as a path to cheaper broadband, there is no requirement that operators pass operational savings through to subscribers. SpaceX, which currently serves more than 10 million customers globally, has not indicated whether relaxed spectrum rules would lead to lower Starlink pricing.
The vote itself is not guaranteed to pass unanimously, though Chairman Carr’s public support suggests a favorable outcome. Rules would take effect after publication in the Federal Register.