Elon Musk’s Plan to Girdle Earth With Satellites Hits Turbulence

  • FCC to defer on constellations of thousands of satellites
  • International role seen possibly limiting power for SpaceX

The Billionaire Moguls in a Race to Outer Space

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Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to surround the Earth with thousands of internet-beaming satellites is encountering turbulence from regulators concerned about interference with competing systems.

SpaceX, the rocket startup Musk runs, filed for permission for its constellation of refrigerator-sized satellites late last year. Selling broadband from orbit is a key part of how SpaceX plans to make money beyond its original rocket-launching service.