Some good news for Elon Musk: FCC ruling means 'faster speeds, lower costs, and greater reliability' for SpaceX Starlink and other satellites
The FCC has relaxed satellite transmission rules, allowing for a sevenfold increase in capacity for low-orbit internet satellites like SpaceX's Starlink. This change is expected to improve speeds, reduce costs, and enhance reliability for satellite broadband users. While welcomed by companies like SpaceX and Amazon, concerns about interference and market dominance have been raised by competitors such as Viasat.
- ▪The FCC removed restrictions on satellite energy transmission, increasing network capacity up to seven times.
- ▪The rule change allows non-geostationary and geostationary satellites to share more of the communications spectrum.
- ▪SpaceX, Amazon, and other satellite internet providers support the decision, while Viasat warns of potential interference and market monopoly risks.
- ▪The FCC estimates the change could unlock over $2 billion in economic benefits for Americans.
- ▪The updated rules modify 1990s-era Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits to accommodate modern satellite technology.
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Computing Internet Some good news for Elon Musk: FCC ruling means 'faster speeds, lower costs, and greater reliability' for SpaceX Starlink and other satellites News By David Nield published 2 May 2026 A sevenfold capacity boost When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A Starlink antenna (Image credit: Starlink) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The FCC has relaxed low-orbit satellite restrictionsIt works out to a 7x capacity increase for internet satellitesThe move is welcomed by SpaceX and AmazonThe US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has delivered some…
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