Cleared for Liftoff: NTIA Unveils Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce announced the debut of its Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal, which will streamline federal reviews of spectrum requests by commercial space launch providers. The Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal replaces a system that was previously run through e-mail and had been criticized by industry for lacking transparency and moving slowly. The new portal will allow commercial space launch providers to request spectrum in the sought after S-band frequencies for space launch operations, as well as deliver a transparent and more expeditious process for reviewing the status of their requests. Federal agencies will be able to review and approve requests, provide feedback, and view all aspects of a request including comments from other agencies.