House Commerce Committee Chairman Bret Guthrie Introduces the Satellite And Telecommunications Streamlining Act

House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) introduced the Satellite And Telecommunications Streamlining Act (SAT Streamlining Act HR 8255), a bill aimed at reducing regulatory bottlenecks for the satellite industry. HR 8255 would mandate strict deadlines on the Federal Communications Commission when reviewing spectrum license applications from satellite operators. Specifically, the bill would:

• create 1-year deadlines for the FCC to approve or deny new license applications for both geostationary (GSO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite systems,
• allow 90-day expedited review for minor modifications like increasing transmission capacity or improving spectral efficiency
• 30-day fast-track reviews for replacement of technically similar equipment and for receive-only earth station applications
• mandate 180-day deadlines for license renewals
• provide "deemed granted" approvals: if the FCC misses a deadline without a valid extension, the application is automatically approved once the applicant sends written notice of the missed deadline
• limited deadline extensions: the FCC can only extend deadlines in extraordinary circumstances, for no more than 90 days, and no more than twice per application
• redirect national security reviews: applications from entities with foreign ownership get referred to a national security committee
• preempts state authority: states and localities would not be able to regulate the rates of satellite licensees