SpaceX emailed Starlink prospects at this time asking for assist in its battle in opposition to Dish Network over radio frequencies for its Starlink internet-from-space effort. Some Starlink prospects acquired an e mail urging them to contact the Federal Communications Commission and members of Congress in an effort to help SpaceX within the ongoing dispute.

“Today we ask for your support in ending a lobbying campaign that threatens to make Starlink unusable for you and the vast majority of our American customers,” the e-mail reads in daring.

Currently, SpaceX and Dish are squabbling over a spread of radio frequencies often called the 12GHz band. SpaceX makes use of these frequencies to function its huge Starlink community, a rising constellation of more than 2,400 satellites used to beam broadband web protection to customers on Earth. It’s additionally a frequency utilized by OneWeb, one other internet-from-space initiative. However, in January of final yr, the FCC opened the door to the 12GHz band being used for 5G, with Dish and an organization referred to as RS Access submitting research on methods their networks may make the most of the frequencies. The corporations additionally formed a “5G for 12 GHz Coalition”, together with different firm members, geared toward getting the FCC to alter its guidelines and permit the 12GHz band for use for 5G.

Now, SpaceX is launching again at Dish and people research. In a filing with the FCC last week, SpaceX stated it makes use of the 12GHz band as “workhorse frequencies” to supply “critical downlink services” throughout the US. If the spectrum have been to be opened up for 5G use, SpaceX claims prospects would expertise a “total outage of service 74% of the time.” SpaceX shared these statistics in its e mail to Starlink customers as effectively as a link to a study it commissioned that it says proves how sharing the 12GHz band would hurt Starlink service.

Some of the phrasing of the e-mail message matches that of an e mail that SpaceX despatched out to media representatives final week, which linked out to the SpaceX research and the corporate’s letter to the FCC. In its e mail to customers, nevertheless, SpaceX prompts them to take motion. “The FCC and your members of Congress have the power to stop this effort, but they need to hear from you,” the e-mail reads.

“Despite technical studies dating back as far as 2016 that refute the basis of their claims, DISH has employed paid lobbyists who are attempting to mislead the FCC with faulty analysis in hopes of obscuring the truth,” the e-mail states.

SpaceX provides a link that customers can click that takes them to a separate web browser web page the place Starlink customers can ship an e mail to the FCC.

Ask the FCC and members of Congress to place an finish to this menace by getting into your identify, e mail and handle within the kind beneath.

Before you hit “Send Message,” be happy to supply a private assertion on how entry to Starlink impacts your life within the textual content field above every message.

Your private experiences will compel your representatives and the FCC to behave in your behalf.

Users are given the choice to ship pre-written emails to US senators and representatives in addition to to the FCC. The pre-written e mail to the FFC begins with: “I am writing to express strong opposition to the FCC proposed rule considering changes to the 12 GHz frequency band. The FCC should reject efforts to repurpose and change the rules relating to this spectrum that is used by satellite operators to provide high-speed broadband and other services in my community and throughout the country.”

Dish already depends on 12GHz to supply some satellite tv for pc TV service, and, as one of many greatest holders of licenses to that spectrum, hopes to start utilizing it for 5G service as effectively. “We believe co-existence is possible,” Dish legislative affairs EVP Jeff Blum told Fierce Wireless final yr, calling the potential change “a win-win-win for everyone.” Dish didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon SpaceX’s e mail.

The spectrum is especially vital to Dish because it builds out its 5G wi-fi community, which is at present going by the identify Project Genesis. Dish acquired Boost Mobile as a part of T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint and struck an settlement with regulators to launch a nationwide wi-fi community. The first part of the community launched throughout the US this month, masking what Dish claims to be greater than 20 % of the US inhabitants.

This is simply the newest regulatory struggle about 5G spectrum sharing. Earlier this yr, AT&T and Verizon acquired right into a dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration over using sure frequencies round airports that might intrude with altimeters after the FCC authorised the spectrum for cell use.