SpaceX's 800 MHz Spectrum Deal: The FCC Records

Grain Management agreed to sell its entire nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio (up to 14 MHz paired across 546 licenses) to SpaceX, pending FCC approval.

The deal pairs 800 MHz low-band spectrum—SpaceX's first—with its existing ~65 MHz mid-band holdings and satellite authorizations to support direct-to-device Starlink Mobile service.

The FCC's July 2026 order established a competitive selection process and conditional pathway for direct-to-device deployment, with 100% of the deadline flexibility between terrestrial and satellite buildout.

SpaceX received a processing-round waiver for FSS operations in Ka-, V-, E-, and W-bands but must operate unprotected and coordinate with existing and future users, immediately reverting to EPFD limits if harmful interference is found.

Separately, the FCC waived SpaceX's/EchoStar's terrestrial construction requirements on AWS-4, AWS-H Block, and AWS-3 licenses and set new buildout deadlines.