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Just about all radio communication is illegal until licensed. Starlink had to get approval from the FCC in the US even before the first satellites went up, to

Just about all radio communication is illegal until licensed. Starlink had to get approval from the FCC in the US even before the first satellites went up, to provide fixed broadband service, and before allowing it to be used on mobile vehicles. Starlink gets licensed in different countries to use specific frequencies to avoid congestion/interference with other services

sureIy 2y ago
Illegal sure, but criminal?
- lazide 2y ago
  Many countries have rules like this. India, being one with quite a few people in it. [https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/uk-issues-travel-advisory-on-unlicensed-satellite-phones-in-india/ https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/uk-issues-travel-advis...][https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/nation/2025/Jan/11/india-cagey-about-starlink-licence-after-manipur-breach https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/nation/2025/Jan/1...] A lot of places ban unlicensed satellite communication devices for the same reasons.
- guax 2y ago
  Being a criminal is illegal in many places.
  - redcobra762 2y ago
    Is it? Committing criminal acts maybe, but it’s relatively rare for mere existence, absent any other fact, to be illegal.
    - cwmoore 2y ago
      Writers write, bakers bake, drivers drive, and murderers do 25-life deterrence, so you don't eg. use satellite internet in the Falkland's.
    - guax 2y ago
      Technically correct. Best kind of correct. I stand corrected.
  - cryptoegorophy 2y ago
    Is it criminal for Ukraine to transit Russian gas during the war? Yes, but is it illegal? No.
- helsinkiandrew 2y ago
  I think the criminal was added by the blog poster. The bill talks about "civil or criminal prosecution". I imagine its the same as elsewhere in the world: if you transmit on an illegal frequency you would likely be taken to the civil courts. If you continue and/or cause interference with other services you'd be taken to criminal court. https://assembly.gov.fk/jdownloads/Executive%20Council/Executive%20Council%20Papers/2016/26%20October%202016/163-16P%20CommsBill.pdf https://assembly.gov.fk/jdownloads/Executive%20Council/Execu...
- xhkkffbf 2y ago
  If there's no punishment, the law is just a polite suggestion.

sureIy 2y ago

Illegal sure, but criminal?

lazide 2y ago
Many countries have rules like this. India, being one with quite a few people in it. [https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/uk-issues-travel-advisory-on-unlicensed-satellite-phones-in-india/ https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/uk-issues-travel-advis...][https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/nation/2025/Jan/11/india-cagey-about-starlink-licence-after-manipur-breach https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/nation/2025/Jan/1...] A lot of places ban unlicensed satellite communication devices for the same reasons.
guax 2y ago
Being a criminal is illegal in many places.
- redcobra762 2y ago
  Is it? Committing criminal acts maybe, but it’s relatively rare for mere existence, absent any other fact, to be illegal.
  - cwmoore 2y ago
    Writers write, bakers bake, drivers drive, and murderers do 25-life deterrence, so you don't eg. use satellite internet in the Falkland's.
  - guax 2y ago
    Technically correct. Best kind of correct. I stand corrected.
- cryptoegorophy 2y ago
  Is it criminal for Ukraine to transit Russian gas during the war? Yes, but is it illegal? No.
helsinkiandrew 2y ago
I think the criminal was added by the blog poster. The bill talks about "civil or criminal prosecution". I imagine its the same as elsewhere in the world: if you transmit on an illegal frequency you would likely be taken to the civil courts. If you continue and/or cause interference with other services you'd be taken to criminal court. https://assembly.gov.fk/jdownloads/Executive%20Council/Executive%20Council%20Papers/2016/26%20October%202016/163-16P%20CommsBill.pdf https://assembly.gov.fk/jdownloads/Executive%20Council/Execu...
xhkkffbf 2y ago
If there's no punishment, the law is just a polite suggestion.