FCC exempts satellite operations from NEPA review, opens 1,050 MHz of spectrum
The FCC voted Sept. 30 to exempt space operations from NEPA review and open 1,050 MHz of satellite spectrum.
updates
- 2026-10-03The same Sept. 30 FCC meeting also opened a rulemaking exploring 1,450 MHz more Ku/Ka-band and D-band spectrum, plus bands for non-connectivity space uses, per the item's own cited Via Satellite source.
what happened
The FCC voted Sept. 30, 2026 to modernize its NEPA rules, clarifying that space launch, satellite deployment and operation, and satellite earth stations are not "major federal actions" requiring environmental review, per Via Satellite. FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty said U.S. licensed operators remain subject to existing orbital-debris and space-safety requirements. The commission separately adopted an order opening more than 1,050 MHz of satellite spectrum: 550 MHz in the 12.7-13.25 GHz band for fixed-satellite service uplink and downlink, including from aircraft- and ship-mounted terminals, and 500 MHz in the 42-42.5 GHz band for satellite gateway downlinks, per Via Satellite and TVTechnology. AST SpaceMobile, Globalstar, Iridium, Ligado, Planet, SES, Spire and Telesat had jointly petitioned for the NEPA exemption; SpaceX, Amazon and Apex Space also backed it, per Via Satellite. The same day, the FCC also issued a notice of proposed rulemaking exploring 1,450 MHz of further spectrum in the Ku- and Ka-bands and in the D-band, plus additional bands for non-connectivity space activities, per Via Satellite.
why it matters
The NEPA exemption removes a standing environmental-review step for launch, satellite deployment and ground-station siting industry-wide, the specific hurdle Chairman Brendan Carr said invited "activist lawsuits" against space projects; the FAA's own NEPA review of launch activity is unaffected. The spectrum order gives every operator that files a modification more capacity for direct-to-device, in-flight and residential satellite broadband, a baseline change that affects planning across the sector rather than one company's license.
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- FCC
- Category
- regulatory
- Impact
- major
- SNR
- 4 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-09-30
- Published
- 2026-09-30 22:52 UTC