The Federal Communications Commission has voted to open a review of the decades-old spectrum sharing regime between satellite systems sought by SpaceX.
The review by the U.S. telecom regulator aims to allow a greater and more intensive use of spectrum for space activities. Existing reductions approved in the 1990s limit power usage that prevent better coverage from SpaceX's Starlink and other systems.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the power limits "hamper satellite broadband by degrading signal quality, reducing coverage, limiting capacity, and making it harder to share spectrum with other satellite systems."
Amazon.com, whose Project Kuiper satellite internet network, aims to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink system, also wants changes to the rules but said the FCC must address a number of questions including what safeguards are needed to protect satellite operations in neighboring countries.
"It is imperative the commission does everything possible to clear the way for American innovation and investment in space excellence" the FCC said.
Musk, the billionaire CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, is overseeing Trump's cost-cutting DOGE effort. SpaceX filed a petition in August seeking changes saying the existing rules "have imposed
