FCC Will Vote on ‘Licensing Assembly Line’ Regulatory Reform July 22
Acceleration of Space Bureau Process Would Support the Dynamic Space Economy
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has announced the anticipated conclusion of the agency’s signature reforms to accelerate satellite and earth station licensing, significantly reducing red tape and boosting the rollout of space-based broadband.
“By adding rocket fuel to the Space Bureau’s efforts, while following our guiding principles of speed, simplicity, security, and satellite spectrum abundance, we are setting up the country for more wins.”
Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman
The Space Modernization Order, if adopted by a vote of the full Commission at the July 22 Open Meeting, would mark the latest Trump Administration win for America’s space superiority.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
“At the outset of the Trump Administration, the FCC committed to boosting America’s space economy. Delivering on that priority is key because our country now sits at the dawn of a new era of space innovation and dominance. Getting the regulatory framework right will determine if America wins this Space Race 2.0. That is why the agency started a process last year to fundamentally change how it processes satellite and earth station operations. We bring that effort to a conclusion with our Space Modernization Order—a decision that will move from bespoke reviews to a consistent, predictable, and objective assembly line process.
“By adding rocket fuel to the Space Bureau’s efforts, while following our guiding principles of speed, simplicity, security, and satellite spectrum abundance, we are setting up the country for more wins.”
“SIA is pleased to see the Commission and Chairman Brendan Carr moving forward with their efforts to modernize their satellite licensing rules,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “The new rules should expedite application processing and provide more predictability for companies, all to the benefit of the satellite community and our broad base of customers. We look forward to continuing to work with the FCC to ensure that the U.S. satellite industry continues to lead the world in innovation and deployment of services crucial to our economy and national defense.”
While the United States is already the world leader in commercial space, the industry is rapidly moving to build the space infrastructure of the future. In pursuit of this goal, the Commission must ensure the United States is the best place for the space industry to build, operate, and license innovative space-based systems. The Order circulated today would, if adopted, overhaul and modernize the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process.
Adopt a new rule section (Part 100) that would revise many legacy rules (Part 25) from first principles, including surety bond requirements, license terms, processing rounds, and other application filing frameworks.
Replace the FCC’s traditional licensing process with a “licensing assembly line,” where applications are modularized and processed more efficiently.
Increase the speed of application processing, provide more predictability for companies, and give the FCC new tools to promote today’s space innovators.
Establish bright-line criteria as to when an application serves the public interest, while providing clarity on the exceptional circumstances that warrant more considered review.
Promote space safety by requiring satellite operators to share space situational awareness data with each other.
Eliminate a large swath of unnecessary licensing and operating rules, per the agency’s Delete, Delete, Delete Proceeding.
Seek comment (in a Further Notice) on the establishment of a space-based experimental licensing regime and further reforms to space and earth station application processing and licensing.