FCC approves SpaceX acquisition of three unbuilt AWS-3 licenses for direct-to-device service, per order

What happened. The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau on Oct. 21, 2026, granted an application to transfer control of TLG Unpaired Holdings, LLC, the Tristar License Group subsidiary that holds three AWS-3 licenses, to Starlink Spectrum Holdings, a SpaceX subsidiary, according to a Memorandum Opinion and Order (DA 26-1129). The order says SpaceX plans to use the spectrum in its next-generation direct-to-device (D2D) satellite network.

Details. Per the order, the licenses cover unpaired AWS-3 spectrum at 1695–1710 MHz in three Economic Areas spanning 62 counties in eight states, about 4% of the U.S. population. Tristar told the FCC it had not built out the licenses. The bureau said its rules ordinarily send unbuilt licenses back to FCC inventory for reauction, but granted waivers of the construction, renewal and discontinuance rules “in these unique circumstances.” In place of terrestrial buildout, the order sets uplink throughput and spectral-efficiency requirements due two, four and nine years after Nov. 30, 2027. A license terminates automatically if its final requirement is not met. No petitions to deny were filed, and petitions for reconsideration may be filed within 30 days of adoption, the order says.

Why it’s notable. According to the applicants, as cited in the order, SpaceX would be attributed with 75 megahertz of spectrum in each of the three license areas after the transaction. It follows the FCC’s Oct. 6 authorization (DA 26-1078) for SpaceX to deploy and operate a 15,000-satellite D2D constellation.