Musk’s SpaceX Wins Appeal Approving Lower-Altitude Satellites

An FCC decision allowing SpaceX to fly satellites at lower altitudes in order to expand internet service coverage withstood legal challenges from competitors claiming the decision overlooked signal interference and environmental issues, according to a D.C. Circuit ruling issued Friday.

The appeals court disagreed with an objection filed by DISH Network Corp., which accused the Federal Communications Commission of overlooking expert reports showing that SpaceX’s proposal would interfere with DISH’s satellites. The FCC correctly weighed the proposal using its own interference rules and wasn’t obligated to use the purportedly “better method” urged by DISH, the US Court of Appeals ...