The Federal Communications Commission has voted to open more than 1,000 MHz of spectrum for satellite communications, clearing the 12.7-13.25 GHz and 42-42.5 GHz bands for services ranging from home broadband to direct-to-device (D2D) offerings and in-flight connectivity.

The order passed under an agenda item the commission titled "Unlocking Satellite Spectrum Abundance." It adds fresh high-band capacity to a satellite sector that is consuming spectrum faster than any other segment of the communications industry.

The move does not strip terrestrial carriers of usable resource. Both bands sit in territory generally considered high for terrestrial cellular. The upper 12 GHz band has historically hosted fixed satellite service (FSS) operations, while the 42 GHz spectrum is largely unused today. None of the Big 3 US wireless carriers is giving anything up as a result of the decision.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr framed the vote as part of a broader campaign to expand spectrum access across the space sector. "We've been running our spectrum abundance playbook for pretty much everything in the sky," Carr said. "We've taken multiple actions to free up spectrum for direct-to-device offerings, with much more of that to come in the next few months."

Carr also pointed to parallel work on the terrestrial side. The commission is facilitating secondary market transactions for licensed cellular spectrum and restarting its auction program. The next major sale — covering upper C-band spectrum — is tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2027.

What the new spectrum will carry

The frequencies advanced in the order are expected to support faster broadband service in homes, connectivity on ships and in the air, and satellite-to-phone services. The commercial stakes are considerable. SpaceX has pushed aggressively into D2D and satellite broadband, but the consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge argued the decision widens the field beyond a single dominant operator.

"It's not just making room for SpaceX to offer better broadband and new cell-phone related services. It also opens the way for Amazon and other satellite providers to compete on a level playing field," said Harold Feld, SVP at Public Knowledge, in a statement.

Feld tied the decision to a longer pattern of FCC spectrum policy that produced earlier commercial breakthroughs. "America leads in wireless innovation because the FCC leads the world in wireless innovation. The cell phone revolution, Wi-Fi, and private networking with Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) all began in the United States because the FCC adopted new and innovative rules for using spectrum," he said. "Once again, the willingness of the FCC and its engineers to question the old way of doing things will lead to huge consumer benefits while avoiding harmful interference."

Public Knowledge said the added spectrum encourages innovation in areas such as D2D and increases the ability of satellite providers to compete with one another. Among the practical benefits it cited: better Wi-Fi on planes, at sea and for RVs.

More spectrum in the pipeline

The commission did not stop at the 1,000 MHz order. It also voted to advance further proposed rulemakings that seek comment on ways to free up an additional 1,450 MHz of spectrum for more intensive satellite use.

That proceeding also covers what the FCC has famously dubbed "weird space stuff" — spectrum access for non-traditional commercial space missions. The commission has published a plan for reliable spectrum access for cutting-edge space operations as part of that effort.

Taken together, the actions signal that satellite spectrum allocations will keep growing. Carr's reference to additional D2D spectrum actions "in the next few months" indicates the current order is one step in a sustained program rather than a one-off grant.

For satellite operators, the immediate task is turning newly available high-band spectrum into commercial services — home broadband, maritime and aviation links, and messaging directly to standard handsets. For terrestrial carriers, the decision leaves their holdings untouched while adding a space-based layer of competition in connectivity markets they also serve.

The upper C-band auction in April 2027, and the pending rulemaking on the additional 1,450 MHz, will determine how much more spectrum flows to both the satellite and terrestrial sectors over the next several years.