FCC to Modernize Space Licensing Through Comprehensive Reforms
Generational Rulemaking Proposes ‘Licensing Assembly Line’ to Support the Dynamic Space Economy
The Federal Communications Commission has launched a generational rulemaking to overhaul its satellite and earth-station licensing processes. This proceeding represents the centerpiece of the Commission’s Final Frontiers agenda to ensure that America’s space innovators build and win on the global stage.
“Through an aggressive set of rules designed from our first principles perspective, we propose to replace our legacy default to no mindset with a default to yes framework built on permissionless innovation.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would overhaul the agency’s decades-old regulations and rewrite them from the ground up in a new Part 100. In particular, the Commission proposes a “licensing assembly line” that would expedite reviews through a modular system that routes and resolves applications based on a company’s tailored needs. This new process would at once give applicants both greater predictability and flexibility. As with an actual assembly line, the FCC expects reviews to be accelerated dramatically as the Commission’s space licensing work focuses on specific issues that require the agency’s attention.
The licensing assembly line is designed to increase the speed of application processing, provide more predictability for companies, and give the FCC new tools to promote today’s space innovators. It does so by establishing bright-line criteria as to when applications serve the public interest, while providing clarity as to exceptional circumstances that warrant more considered review.
The proposed rules will transform the Commission’s regulations in other ways, too. The Commission will rethink many legacy rules from first principles, including surety bond requirements, license terms, processing rounds, and the list of modifications that do not need new approval. A new nationwide earth station license is proposed to reduce red tape. To promote space safety in a light-touch manner, the Commission proposes to require satellite operators to share space situational awareness data with each other. Finally, the proposed Part 100 would delete a wide swath of unnecessary rules, in keeping with the agency’s Delete, Delete, Delete proceeding.
“We propose to overhaul the FCC’s licensing processes to match the scale and dynamism of today’s space economy. Through an aggressive set of rules designed from our first principles perspective, we propose to replace our legacy default to no mindset with a default to yes framework built on permissionless innovation,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said during the October open meeting. “We plan to do away with bespoke licensing processes in favor of a licensing assembly line. We intend to set out bright line rules about the kinds of applications that serve the public interest, as well as simplifying applications, establishing clear timelines, and increasing flexibility for licensed operations.
Since January, the FCC has been laying the groundwork to boost America’s space economy. The Commission has already taken critical actions, including launching a proceeding that looks at bolstering and safeguarding the services provided by our GPS system, opening a rulemaking that could free up more than 20,000 megahertz for satellite broadband, and initiating review of outdated technical rules holding back low earth orbit broadband. Additionally, the FCC has been clearing out satellite application backlogs, reducing processing times at a record pace, and has eliminated approval requirements for a range of routine changes that pose no risk to the public.
Action by the Commission October 28, 2025 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 25-69). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving. Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.
“SIA commends Chairman Carr and the FCC leadership for the Commission’s continued recognition of the expanding importance of the commercial space industry and the critical services satellites provide to hundreds of millions of Americans each day,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “SIA and its members appreciate the FCC’s commitment to evolving the commercial satellite regulatory environment by streamlining the licensing process and further supporting America’s leadership role in the global commercial space economy. The proposed rule changes will greatly expedite the licensing process and provide for better utilization of some of the frequency bands available to the industry. We look forward to working with the FCC staff to finalize and implement these proposed rule changes.”