The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to vote on rule changes that would let low-Earth orbit satellites like SpaceX’s Starlink transmit at significantly higher power levels, a shift that could substantially increase space-based broadband capacity. If approved, the changes could mean faster download speeds and, eventually, lower monthly bills for millions of satellite internet subscribers, particularly in rural areas where traditional broadband remains unavailable.
The vote, expected in May 2026 according to people familiar with the commission’s agenda, would cap a regulatory process that began when SpaceX filed a formal petition for rulemaking (RM-11990) in August 2024. In that filing, SpaceX asked the FCC to overhaul its equivalent power flux density (EPFD) framework, the set of rules that caps how much signal power non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites can emit to avoid interfering with older geostationary (GSO) systems parked roughly 22,000 miles above Earth.
Why the current rules are a bottleneck
EPFD limits were originally designed around an earlier generation of satellite technology, when a handful of large spacecraft in geostationary orbit dominated commercial space communications. SpaceX argues in its petition that those limits now act as an artificial ceiling on what modern constellations, composed of thousands of small satellites in low orbit equipped with advanced antennas and beam-forming technology, can actually deliver.
Under the current framework, each Starlink satellite is restricted in how much power it can direct toward the ground, even when its hardware is capable of more. That constraint limits how many users a single satellite can serve simultaneously and how fast each connection can be, especially during peak hours in high-demand areas. SpaceX’s petition cites specific FCC rule sections and asks the commission to replace the existing sharing framework with one calibrated to the realities of modern NGSO broadband.
What the FCC’s proposal would change
The petition triggered a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), opening the proceeding to public comment through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System. SpaceX’s own petition argues that relaxing EPFD limits could multiply space-based broadband capacity several times over, enabling higher speeds and lower costs for end users. Because that projection comes from a party with a direct financial interest in the outcome, readers should treat it as advocacy rather than a neutral estimate.
For subscribers, the logic is relatively straightforward. More capacity per satellite means each ground terminal can pull down data faster, with fewer bottlenecks when many users are online at once. The economics also tend to favor lower per-user costs over time: when fixed infrastructure expenses are spread across greater throughput, operators have more room to compete on price.
The benefits would not be limited to Starlink. Any revised EPFD framework would apply across the NGSO industry, including other operators such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper and Eutelsat OneWeb. SpaceX, with the largest constellation and subscriber base, stands to gain the most in the near term.
Opposition and open questions
Not everyone in the satellite industry is cheering. Companies that operate traditional geostationary fleets, including Intelsat and SES, have historically argued that loosening power limits for NGSO constellations risks harmful interference to their services, which span government communications, aviation connectivity, and maritime broadband. Their formal comments in the NPRM docket have not been widely reported, leaving it unclear whether the industry has reached a working consensus or whether the FCC faces organized pushback.
The technical details of interference modeling also remain only partially visible. SpaceX’s petition includes the company’s own analysis of how revised limits would affect coexistence with GSO systems, but whether the FCC conducted independent simulations or commissioned third-party studies has not been publicly documented. If interference complaints surface after implementation, the strength of that technical record will be tested.
There is also an international layer. EPFD limits are coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which sets global baseline thresholds so that satellites licensed by different countries can coexist without harmful interference. A unilateral U.S. departure from existing ITU norms could trigger disputes with other national regulators. The FCC’s final order may address how it plans to align new domestic limits with international obligations, but no public language on that coordination has appeared yet.
What happens next
No final vote has been publicly confirmed on the FCC’s meeting agenda as of early May 2026. Regulatory votes can be delayed or modified at the last minute, particularly if late-filed comments raise new technical concerns or if commissioners seek additional safeguards. The definitive confirmation will come when the FCC publishes its meeting notice, circulates a draft order, and releases the final rule text.
Even after approval, faster speeds would not arrive overnight. SpaceX would need to update network software, potentially launch additional satellites optimized for higher power operations, and tune ground equipment to take full advantage of any new limits. The rollout would likely unfold over months or years rather than weeks.
Still, the direction of travel is clear. The FCC has a formal proceeding underway, a petition from the dominant NGSO operator making detailed technical and economic arguments, and preliminary indications of potentially large capacity gains. If the commission follows through, the rule change could mark a turning point for satellite broadband, shifting it from a last-resort option for people without alternatives into a more competitive choice alongside fiber and cable in parts of the country where those networks remain thin on the ground.
More from Morning Overview
*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
