The Federal Communications Commission is set to consider a proposal Thursday that would open additional spectrum to satellite-to-phone services, a move aimed at expanding connections between satellites and ordinary mobile devices.
The draft would make another 482 megahertz available for Supplemental Coverage from Space and expand the eligible spectrum bands from five to 13. The item is on the agenda for the FCC’s October 29 open meeting, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
Supplemental Coverage from Space allows satellite operators and terrestrial wireless providers to work together using licensed mobile spectrum. The proposed changes would also examine existing requirements and ways to bring those rules into closer alignment with the agency’s Mobile Satellite Service framework.
The meeting item is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. A vote to advance it would begin a public-comment process, not give final approval to the proposed changes or guarantee immediate new coverage for customers.
The FCC has released the draft proposal and the meeting agenda. The open meeting will also be streamed through the commission’s website.
