- The FCC voted unanimously to propose a new auction of 25 megahertz of mid-band spectrum
- The agency also proposed changes that would give satellite D2D services access to more spectrum
- Carriers warn that sharing their 5G bands with satellites could cause interference
The direct-to-device (D2D) market on Thursday received some more love from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which voted to move forward with proposals to auction 25 megahertz of mid-band spectrum and to modernize rules for D2D services.
The FCC said it intends to open the spectrum auction to a broad range of connectivity providers, from 5G and 6G to D2D or some hybrid network. However, the agency’s actions seem most likely to benefit the likes of SpaceX as it seeks to beef up its D2D satellite system and build out a terrestrial mobile network.
Specifically, the first item on the commission’s agenda was a proposal to put 25 megahertz of the 1675-1695 MHz and 2020-2025 MHz bands up for auction. The second was a plan to modernize FCC rules for D2D services in licensed spectrum, making an additional 482 megahertz of spectrum available for Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS). Both passed 3-0.
The first item is contingent on a 1675-1695 MHz band study underway at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is busy identifying how the band can be reallocated since it’s currently being used by federal agencies. The second item will soon be the subject of a public comment period.
FCC gets even more serious about D2D
In prepared remarks, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that in his first few months as chair, it became clear that the FCC needed a comprehensive strategy to support emerging D2D services, and he set out to do just that.
Coming into 2026, “we put together a comprehensive D2D plan focused on advancing American leadership and standing up a competitive, multi-player market,” he said. “We have been executing on that plan ever since.”
He noted how the market has responded: SpaceX’s acquisition of EchoStar’s spectrum for over $19 billion; Amazon Leo’s acquisition of Globalstar and its spectrum for more than $11 billion; Grain Management’s deal to sell spectrum to SpaceX for $8 billion; and Rocket Lab’s application with the FCC to acquire Iridium for $8 billion.
Carr also acknowledged that the latest frequencies they’re considering for SCS are exclusively licensed for wireless services like 5G. “We intend to give D2D providers more flexibility to obtain new sources of spectrum, but we do so mindful of the unique technical considerations that prevail in some of these bands,” he said.
“Our decisions in this proceeding will be guided by the best engineering in the record. In the end, I am confident that we can bring more D2D flexibility while maintaining America’s world-class 5G networks,” he added.
What about a spectrum screen for satellites?
Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat on the three-member panel, noted that for years, a spectrum screen has been applied to terrestrial spectrum bands to ensure limited spectrum resources are available to support competition.
She suggested that it’s time to start conceptualizing what a spectrum screen looks like for satellite uses. Both satellite spectrum items voted on during Thursday’s meeting include a question about whether and how to apply a spectrum screen.
Asked about that during a press conference after the commission’s meeting, she said it’s something she’s been pondering, “especially given how much spectrum we’re talking about licensing the satellite providers.”
“I think it’s important that we think about the competitive market, how to preserve the ability of new entrants to get access to spectrum, as well as to provide services,” she said. “I worry about competition and making sure that everyone that wants to have access to spectrum, within reason, can get it.”
Background on mobile carrier concerns
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, CTIA and representatives from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon met with FCC officials to discuss their concerns about SCS and D2D services being introduced into 5G time division duplex (TDD) “workhorse” spectrum bands, including the 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz bands, citing synchronization and interference risks.
T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan also met last week with Carr to discuss the SCS and D2D proposals. T-Mobile relies heavily on the 2.5 GHz band for its 5G network and argued that the FCC should leave it out of any of its D2D proposals.
In an Oct. 21 filing with the FCC, T-Mobile said that up to 96% of a cell site’s uplink coverage area could be lost where a satellite covers the same region, resulting in 88%-99% slower uplink speeds for customers inside the affected area. It also said about 60% of its uplink coverage within six miles of its licensed service area in the 2.5 GHz band could be wiped out as a result of unsynchronized satellite transmissions bleeding over due to the large footprint of satellite beams.
Asked during the press conference about any significant revisions to the satellite items between the draft and final versions, FCC staff said the biggest change probably was in how the agency seeks comments on bands used for TDD. The record raised a number of concerns about technical challenges, so they adjusted the questions accordingly.
The “Starlink Doctrine” for spectrum
In the Oct. 26 edition of his podcast, Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, described what’s happening at the FCC as what he called the “Starlink Doctrine,” in which Starlink subscribes to a spectrum policy of “what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine too.”
The satellite players are approaching this “like, licensed spectrum, what is this? We have a natural right to use all spectrum,” he said.
However, “no, you don’t have this God-given right,” he said, adding: “There’s a reason why we have licensed spectrum and there’s a reason why we have unlicensed spectrum, and the people who pay for their license should have the exclusive benefits for that.”
CTIA: Thanks for the SCS modernization
Regarding the FCC’s moves to modernize SCS rules, CTIA today said it welcomes the FCC’s efforts to expand connectivity and innovation through terrestrial and satellite-based communications.
“We look forward to working with the commission to ensure that American consumers and businesses continue to benefit from world-leading wireless networks, the foundation of our AI-driven future,” CTIA said in a statement.
The organization didn’t say anything about the interference concerns that it raised earlier. Presumably, those will be addressed in the record in future comments.
More cellular spectrum for drones
Among the other items on their agenda, the FCC voted to modernize rules to open a swath of spectrum in the 800 MHz band for drone operations.
Historically, the 800 MHz band was one of the earliest licensed spectrum bands for mobile phone operations, with the FCC adopting rules in 1981 for the licensing of 800 MHz cellular phone service. In 1991, it prohibited “airborne” use in an effort to minimize the risk of interference between terrestrial networks and phones on planes. But it also prohibited modern drone operations.
Thursday’s vote will remove a restriction that unintentionally prevented drones from operating in 50 megahertz of low-band spectrum in the 800 MHz band.
Read more stories about spectrum and satellites on Fierce Network:
SpaceX helps give towers new lease on life
Satellites score abundance of spectrum in FCC’s latest move
FCC eyes unlicensed spectrum for new D2D services