SpaceX's [1]Starlink is now rolling out to thousands of residents
  living in the "National Radio Quiet Zone" in Virginia and West
  Virginia, where wireless signals are restricted.

  The access arrives following a three-year effort between SpaceX and US
  scientists to prevent Starlink from disrupting local radio telescopes,
  which is why the quiet zone exists.

  "Based on these results, SpaceX will begin a one-year assessment period
  to offer residential satellite internet service to 99.5% of residents
  within the NRQZ starting October 25,” the Green Bank Observatory
  [2]said on Friday.
  Map of the new limits for Starlink in NRQZ

  (Credit: Green Bank Observatory)

  The radio quiet zone around the observatory restricts cellular and
  Wi-Fi signals, although many residents do have [3]Wi-Fi and
  [4]fiber-based broadband.

  The quiet zone is needed to help radio telescopes detect the faintest
  signals from deep space. SpaceX has refrained from beaming Starlink
  internet to the area because the radio signals from its satellites
  could disrupt or even [5]damage the “eye” of the radio telescopes.

  In August, SpaceX [6]said it was ready to start rolling out Starlink
  access to users in the radio quiet zones around the Green Bank
  Observatory and another telescope in New Mexico. To prevent
  interference, the company developed a system that can quickly steer
  satellite beams away from the radio telescopes as they pass overhead.

  As a result, Starlink is now live in 42 of the 46 cell areas around the
  Green Bank Observatory’s telescopes; previously, the satellite internet
  access was unavailable across all 46 sites.

  “This collaboration will allow residents to access high-quality,
  high-speed internet, and also expand opportunities for improved
  communication, like those needed by emergency services and first
  responders,” says Green Bank Observatory Director Jim Jackson. During
  the one-year-period, SpaceX and the observatory will monitor and try to
  resolve any interference issues.

  A growing number of counties in the area have [7]called for the
  dissolution of the National Radio Quiet Zone, citing the danger of
  people not having access to emergency services.

  "This is still keeping a portion of Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties
  in the dark ages of communications systems,” Pendleton County Emergency
  Services Coordinator Rick Gillespie [8]told West Virginia's WOWK-TV.

  In an email, Gillespie also told PCMag that the [9]Roam version of
  Starlink had actually been available across 100% of the quiet zone for
  the past two years. But after SpaceX announced its agreement with the
  Green Bank Observatory, about 0.5% of the quiet zone has lost the
  Starlink access, he said.

Recommended by Our Editors

  "This means that a large section of southeastern Pendleton County and
  an even larger section of northern Pocahontas will NOT be able to
  utilize Starlink," he added in a [10]statement. "Those areas ARE the
  0.5% exclusion zone. In many cases, Starlink was the only Internet
  provider option residents and emergency responders had. This is
  unacceptable."

  In response, Gillespie has been urging representatives of the National
  Radio Quiet Zone to loosen the radio restrictions, enabling wireless
  communications for local public safety services. "Throughout this
  process, any adjustments to the NRQZ regulations have been made without
  our involvement. These restrictions continue to escalate without our
  input, which must cease," he added.

  We've reached out to the Green Bank Observatory and SpaceX for comment,
  and we'll update the story if we hear back.

  Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from Rick
  Gillespie.

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About Michael Kan

Senior Reporter

  Michael Kan

  I've been working as a journalist for over 15 years—I got my start as a
  schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017.

  [13]Read Michael's full bio

Read the latest from Michael Kan

References

  1. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/starlink
  2. https://greenbankobservatory.org/front-page-news/improved-satellite-internet-service-for-nrqz/
  3. https://www.wired.com/story/the-truth-about-the-quietest-town-in-america/
  4. https://greenbankobservatory.org/news/broadband-will-bring-high-speed-internet-connectivity-to-the-national-radio-quiet-zone/
  5. https://www.pcmag.com/news/radio-astronomers-raise-alarm-bells-over-spacexs-cellular-starlink-tech
  6. https://www.pcmag.com/news/starlink-is-coming-to-radio-quiet-zones-in-the-us
  7. https://www.wowktv.com/news/10-west-virginia-counties-call-for-changes-to-national-radio-quiet-zone/
  8. https://www.wowktv.com/news/10-west-virginia-counties-call-for-changes-to-national-radio-quiet-zone/
  9. https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-increases-price-for-starlink-roam-plan-but-adds-features
 10. https://www.scribd.com/document/785419396/Pendleton-NRQZ-Press-Release-20241026
 11. http://www.ziffdavis.com/terms-of-use
 12. https://www.ziffdavis.com/ztg-privacy-policy
 13. https://www.pcmag.com/authors/michael-kan

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