FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel shared with her colleagues final rules to ensure spectrum certainty for communications services used during commercial space launches. Private companies now play a significant role in the operation and launch of space satellites, scientific research, and the transportation of astronauts for both public and private purposes.
As a result, these new rules, if approved by the full Commission, will provide access to dependable and predictable wireless communications services. The new rules would implement a new allocation in the 2025 to 2110 MHz band for space launches, broaden the spectrum available in the 2200 to 2290 MHz band for commercial space activities on a secondary basis and advance technical and licensing rules for space launch missions.
“The next-generation Space Age is already here. We are seeing more commercial space activity at the agency than ever before, and our overall approach as the designated commercial spectrum regulator must reflect that reality,” says chairwoman Rosenworcel. “These rules will ensure commercial space launches have the necessary spectrum resources for reliable communications no matter their mission. These updates will promote economic strength, safety, competitiveness, and innovation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this latest action to continue the United States’ long history of space leadership.”
The rules would require the FCC’s office of engineering and technology to release a public notice on a new docket for public feedback on the expanded use of non-federal satellite bands by federal agencies and allow the deployment of federal space stations by amending the allocation for the 399.9 to 400.05 MHz band.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel also thanked the FCC’s partners in this work: “We greatly appreciate the productive engagement from the Administration, led by our friends at NTIA. The thoughtful input in this proceeding from NASA, the Department of Defense, industry participants and others have informed this action and helped ensure we can move forward while protecting federal and private spectrum users.”
As part of this agenda, the FCC established its new Space Bureau and took action to speed up regulatory review processes, increased the number of staff working on satellite applications, created new opportunities for competition in the delivery of satellite broadband services, and modernised spectrum policy to better meet the needs of the next generation Space Age. As the agency promotes Space Innovation, it also has taken action to advance space safety and responsibility, including by adopting new rules for deorbiting satellites to address orbital debris risks.
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