Court Upholds FCC Approval of Starlink’s LEO Launch License
'Because the FCC’s order was lawful and reasonably explained, we affirm," said Circuit Judge Neomi Rao.
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2024 – A federal court on Friday upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s 2022 decision to allow SpaceX’s Starlink to deploy 7,500 next-generation (Gen2) satellites into low-earth orbit to provide Internet access.
Decision of D.C. Circuit Court in Dark-Sky v. FCC
The Federal Communications Commission licensed a new satellite system owned by Space Exploration Holdings (“SpaceX”). DISH Network challenges the license on several grounds, including that the Commission did not adequately consider the risk of signal interference with other satellites. The International Dark-Sky Association also appeals the order, asserting that the Commission failed to conduct the environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Because the Commission’s order was lawful and reasonably explained, we affirm.
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A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the FCC’s licensing of Starlink reasonably addressed signal interference issues raised by satellite TV operator Dish Network and environmental impact concerns raised by International Dark-Sky, whose members include astronomers fighting nighttime light pollution caused by satellite glare.
