Satellite Industry Association Celebrates 30 Years of Advocacy
Trade Group is Undergoing Historic Growth and Innovation
The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is proud to commemorate three decades of representing members of the domestic commercial satellite industry. Since its founding in 1995, the trade association has advocated on behalf of U.S. satellite firms regarding policy, regulatory, and legislative matters affecting the satellite business – now in the midst of more than half a decade of historic industry growth and technological innovation. Earlier this week, to mark the Association’s 30th anniversary milestone, SIA hosted a special celebratory event in Washington, DC for its members, current and past Association executives, as well as U.S. Government invitees and other SIA guests.
“Today, the Association and its members play a key role in our nation’s defense, public safety, enterprise and everyday consumer economy.”
Tom Stroup, SIA
When SIA was founded 30 years ago, there were just a few hundred satellites operating in Earth orbit. Today, that number has grown to over 14,000 and the industry now provides vital services to hundreds of millions of Americans and billions of people around the world each day. Since SIA’s inception, the Association has provided a unified voice for the satellite industry, something that was lacking prior to 1995. For three decades, SIA has educated and advocated on behalf of the various sectors of the commercial satellite business before U.S. government lawmakers and regulators. During that time, there have been significant changes to spectrum management, export controls policy, licensing and the entire satellite regulatory regime. The FCC’s continued recognition of the growing importance of the commercial space industry culminated in the 2023 formation of the Commission’s Space Bureau – a separate Bureau focused on the rapidly expanding commercial space industry and a regulatory environment conducive to continued American leadership in satellite innovation and the growing global space economy.
“On this 30th anniversary of SIA, I am very proud to be president of the Association - as we begin our fourth decade of advocating on behalf of the rapidly expanding U.S. commercial satellite industry, satellites impact the lives of virtually all Americans,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Today, the Association and its members play a key role in our nation’s defense, public safety, enterprise and everyday consumer economy. On behalf of SIA, our staff and its members, I would like to emphasize what an honor it is for the Association to serve as the domestic satellite industry’s regulatory and policy representative.”
SIA is a recognized focal point for the U.S. satellite industry in Washington, DC, representing and advocating industry positions with key policy makers on Capitol Hill and with the White House, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and other key Executive Branch departments and agencies.