Amazon.com Inc told US authorities on Wednesday that Elon Musk, the billionaire who also runs Tesla Inc and SpaceX, does not believe government regulations apply to him. The firms are fighting over competing for satellite-based internet plans.
Amazon accused Musk of disregarding a range of government-imposed restrictions, including several FAA standards, in a severely worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
“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.
On Wednesday, both SpaceX and Tesla did not immediately respond to calls for comment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also declined to comment.
SpaceX’s Starlink network faces fierce competition from Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a proposed US$10 billion (RM41.5 billion) network of over 3,000 satellites that will provide high-speed internet from space.
In the private space launch sector, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and Musk are competitors. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s decision to award a US$2.9 billion lunar lander contract to SpaceX has been challenged by Bezos’ Blue Origin.
In a complaint with the FCC last week, SpaceX accused Amazon of attempting to block the company’s plans, “only the latest in its continuing efforts to slow down the competition” they added.
