News

In addition to expanding coverage in areas lacking ground infrastructure, the proposal would clarify rules for unlicensed device operations inside spacecraft.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will consider a proposal to open more than 200 megahertz of unlicensed spectrum for direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications at its August 6 open commission meeting.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ET Docket No. 26-169) proposes to establish frequency allocations in the 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, and 5725-5850 MHz bands—traditionally used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth—to allow terrestrial devices to connect directly with satellites.

In addition to expanding coverage in areas lacking ground infrastructure, the proposal would clarify rules for unlicensed device operations inside spacecraft and seek public comment on broader satellite-to-ground integration and space-based communication safety.

A July 16 factsheet published on the FCC’s website argues the move would be long overdue.

Adopting the proposed rules “would foster innovation by allowing industry stakeholders to develop new services that seamlessly integrate devices across terrestrial and satellite platforms and provide consumers with another option for direct-to-device satellite communication services,” the factsheet states.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

Get this news in your inbox. Subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter!