FCC Adopts Groundbreaking Overhaul of Space Bureau's Licensing Process

In a landmark decision marking the latest Trump Administration win for American space superiority, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overhaul and modernize the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process. These signature reforms put into action the Commission’s long-term vision for accelerating the Space Bureau’s work. The Report and Order overhauls and modernizes the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process in a number of areas:

• Adopts 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.
• Replaces the FCC’s traditional licensing process with a “licensing assembly line” where applications are modularized and processed more efficiently.
• Increases the speed of application processing, provides more predictability for companies, and gives the FCC new tools to promote today’s space innovators.
• Establishes bright-line criteria as to when an application serves the public interest, while providing clarity on the exceptional circumstances that warrant more considered review.
• Promotes space safety by requiring satellite operators to share space situational awareness data.