In a harshly
worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Amazon accused Musk
of ignoring a variety of government-imposed rules, including several Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.
“Whether it
is launching satellites with unlicensed antennas, launching rockets without
approval, building an unapproved launch tower, or re-opening a factory in
violation of a shelter-in-place order, the conduct of SpaceX and other Musk-led
companies makes their view plain: rules are for other people, and those who
insist upon or even simply request compliance are deserving of derision and ad
hominem attacks,” Amazon wrote. “If the FCC regulated hypocrisy, SpaceX would
be keeping the commission very busy.”
Both SpaceX
and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. The
FCC and FAA declined to comment.
Amazon’s
Project Kuiper, a planned $10 billion network of over 3,000 satellites that
will provide high-speed Internet from space, faces stiff competition from
SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Amazon
founder Jeff Bezos and Musk are rivals in the private space launch business.
Bezos’ Blue Origin has challenged the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s decision to award a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract to
SpaceX.
Amazon on
August 25 asked the FCC to reject a proposed SpaceX revision to its satellite
configuration plans, saying it was at odds with FCC rules and left “nearly
every major detail unsettled.”
Last week,
SpaceX accused Amazon in its own filing with the FCC of seeking to delay
SpaceX’s plan, saying it was “only the latest in its continuing efforts to slow
down competition.”
SpaceX
added: “While SpaceX has proceeded to deploy more than 1,700 satellites, Amazon
has yet to even attempt to address the radiofrequency interference and orbital
debris issues that must be resolved before Amazon can deploy its
constellation.”
SpaceX
suggested Amazon “as it falls behind competitors … is more than willing to use
regulatory and legal processes to create obstacles designed to delay those
competitors from leaving Amazon even further behind.”
Amazon’s
filing said “SpaceX has just one name for any private company that dares point
out its flouting of laws and regulations: ‘anticompetitive.'” © Reuters
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