FCC lets Starlink provide service to cell phones in areas hit by hurricane

Comments

• NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Huh, I didn’t know the FCC oversaw this. I remember that satellite services like satellite television and satellite radio, allowing them to host content that would normally violate FCC guidelines like speech and nudity.

  Why is cell service different? Or has it always been like this that the FCC still has jurisdiction in some areas?

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  • sgt_hulka@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    The FCC governs all (non-government use) frequencies in the US - terrestrial and satellite.

    However, the emergency waiver probably has more to do with the cell bands than satellite. Normally the cell frequencies are heavily regulated and planned to avoid interference between carrier towers. Having a satellite suddenly start broadcasting on the frequencies that your phone uses is going to confuse the neck out of the terrestrial network - unless that network happens to be washed away by a flood.

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