Eleven industry organizations are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revise restrictions on signal strength for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, saying rules imposed more than 20 years ago are outdated and holding back growth in the sector.
In a letter sent Monday to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, the groups said that lifting equivalent power-flux density (EPFD) limits would help expand internet access in rural communities, support first responders in emergencies, lower barriers for new entrants, and boost the competitiveness of U.S. satellite operators.
“We urge the commission to move forward with updating the EPFD limits and to champion this reform internationally and at the ITU, to unlock the full potential of LEO satellites both domestically and abroad,” the letter said. “Americans would greatly benefit from greater access to LEO broadband, increased competition, lower prices, and improved service quality.”
The existing EPFD rules are designed to protect satellites in geostationary orbit by capping the signal strength from LEO systems to enable spectrum sharing. While operators such as SpaceX and Amazon have pushed for the restrictions to be reconsidered, legacy geostationary satellite providers have argued the rules remain necessary and have not prevented the rise of LEO constellations.
The FCC announced in April it was reviewing the rules, but on a global level the issue is not scheduled to be discussed at the International Telecommunication Union’s next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027.
The letter was signed by 14 individuals representing 11 organizations, including the Open Technology Institute at New America, the Lexington Institute, the Software & Information Industry Association, and the Computer & Communications Industry Association.
