Dish, AT&T object to SpaceX and T-Mobile’s spectrum request

In April 2023, the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau opened a proceeding to accept comments on filings by SpaceX and T-Mobile to establish supplemental wireless coverage from space. SpaceX is requesting a modification of its license to add cellular communications capability on 7,500 of its Gen2, low-Earth-orbit Starlink satellites. AT&T filed comments on May 18 expressing concern that SpaceX and T-Mobile’s plan might interfere with the delivery of terrestrial wireless services. Curiously, AT&T’s comments show concern about interference to T-Mobile’s terrestrial operations. Cynics might wonder if AT&T is just trying to delay the progress of T-Mobile and SpaceX on space-to-mobile supplementary coverage. Dish Network, which is no friend of SpaceX, also filed comments with the FCC, urging it to dismiss or deny SpaceX’s application. Among its concerns, Dish said SpaceX has failed to explain how it will avoid excessive out-of-band emissions in the adjacent H Block and AWS-4 spectrum licensed to Dish. The Rural Wireless Association also filed comments saying it was concerned that T-Mobile’s and SpaceX’s proposed operations may cause adjacent channel interference to licensees’ mobile and fixed network operations in the 1895-1910 MHz and 1975-1990 MHz bands (“PCS C-Block”) in rural and remote areas.