SpaceX's satellite internet service is embroiled in a new regulatory spat, this time over plans to let customers use Starlink dishes on moving vehicles, including cars and boats.
In a Tuesday letter(Opens in a new window) to the FCC, Dish Network argues SpaceX breaks the commission’s rules by allegedly tacitly encouraging Starlink customers to use their dishes on moving vehicles.
“An increasing number of Starlink users are acting on SpaceX’s call to unauthorized activity, and are using their Starlink terminals in motion; and some of them are enthusiastically telling the world about it, further propagating the idea that nothing is wrong with this violation of Commission rules,” Dish wrote in the letter, which follows a separate complaint(Opens in a new window) sent last month.
SpaceX is still waiting for FCC clearance that would allow consumers to operate Starlink in moving cars, boats, and planes. However, Dish Network claims SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been encouraging users to try their Starlink dishes on moving vehicles, citing his tweets.
Most notably, Musk wrote(Opens in a new window) last month: “Starlink does work on vehicles in motion, including planes, but not yet reliably,” after the company launched Starlink RV, which is officially designed only for stationary purposes.
Tweet(Opens in a new window)
Dish Network alleges “these statements actively encourage and solicit Starlink customers to break these rules.” The company is also concerned any unauthorized mobile Starlink use will interfere with Dish’s own satellite TV service.
“Starlink ESIMs (Earth stations in motion) may activate Starlink beams in areas where satellites would not otherwise have been active, threatening satellite television customers in the area,” the company added.
As additional evidence, Dish Network pointed to how Starlink customers have been posting photos on social media showing their dishes being used on moving boats and vehicles. “Many others are likely doing the same without posting about it on social media, and many among the viewers are likely to emulate the unauthorized operations,” the company added.
Dish Network letter to the FCC
Dish is asking the FCC to require SpaceX to publicly clarify that using Starlink in a moving vehicle is illegal. The letter also calls on the commission to crack down on the violations.
'Feeble Publicity Stunts'
SpaceX is pushing back. On Wednesday, the company sent its own letter(Opens in a new window) to the FCC, which notes that SpaceX’s customer agreement(Opens in a new window) for Starlink clearly states “IN-MOTION USE PROHIBITED,” and that doing so will void the warranty.
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SpaceX also says Dish takes Musk’s tweets out of context. SpaceX has an experimental license to test Starlink on planes, and this is what Musk’s tweet was referring to, the letter says.
“Dish then claims the American public does not have the aptitude to understand whether the new RV service can be used while in motion, while also recognizing that the SpaceX website(Opens in a new window) specifically states that 'Starlink for RVs is not designed for use while in motion,'" SpaceX adds.
The letter goes on to urge the FCC to approve its application to operate Starlink dishes in moving vehicles. The regulatory spat coincides with a separate Dish and SpaceX feud over securing 5G 12GHz spectrum to run their satellite services.
“The Commission should put a quick end to Dish’s feeble publicity stunts,” SpaceX added. “Dish has made clear that it will continue these time-wasting antics so long as the Commission fails to close the 12GHz proceeding or to grant SpaceX’s applications to provide high-throughput, low-latency broadband service to American consumers in motion.”
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"dish" - Google News
June 09, 2022 at 11:50PM
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Dish Feuds With SpaceX Over Starlink Dishes Being Used on Moving Boats, Cars - PCMag
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