II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4010 

To establish radiofrequency licensing authority for certain operations involving 

certain earth stations and gateway stations, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 21, 2024 

Mr. CRUZ (for himself and Ms. ROSEN) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation 

A BILL 

To establish radiofrequency licensing authority for certain 

operations involving certain earth stations and gateway 

stations, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Satellite And Tele5 communications Streamlining Act’’ or the ‘‘SAT Stream6 lining Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. AUTHORITY REGARDING CERTAIN LICENSES. 

2 (a) AMENDMENT.—Part I of title III of the Commu3 nications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended 

4 by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘SEC. 346. RADIOFREQUENCY LICENSING AUTHORITY RE6 LATING TO CERTAIN OPERATIONS. 

7 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 ‘‘(1) COVERED APPLICATION.—The term ‘cov9 ered application’ means an application for a license 

10 or grant of market access to operate a system de11 scribed in subsection (c)(1)(B) or (d)(1)(B) that is 

12 pending on the date of enactment of this section. 

13 ‘‘(2) COVERED AUTHORIZATION.—The term 

14 ‘covered authorization’ means— 

15 ‘‘(A) a license or grant of market access 

16 granted by the Commission to operate a system 

17 described in subsection (c)(1)(B) or (d)(1)(B) 

18 that is in effect on the date of enactment of 

19 this section; or 

20 ‘‘(B) a license or grant of market access 

21 granted by Commission approval of a covered 

22 application. 

23 ‘‘(3) COVERED RADIOCOMMUNICATION SERV24 ICE.—The term ‘covered radiocommunication serv25 ice’— 


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1 ‘‘(A) means a radiocommunication service 

2 (as defined in the radio regulations of the Inter3 national Telecommunication Union that are in 

4 force as of the date of enactment of this sec5 tion, or any successor regulations); and 

6 ‘‘(B) does not include any radionavigation 

7 or safety service specifically identified by the 

8 Commission as a safety service for aeronautical 

9 or maritime transportation. 

10 ‘‘(4) GATEWAY STATION.—The term ‘gateway 

11 station’ means an earth station or a group of earth 

12 stations that— 

13 ‘‘(A) supports the routing and switching 

14 functions of a system operated under a license 

15 granted under subsection (c) or a grant of mar16 ket access granted under subsection (d); 

17 ‘‘(B) may also be used for telemetry, track18 ing, and command transmissions; 

19 ‘‘(C) does not originate or terminate com20 munication traffic; and 

21 ‘‘(D) is not for the exclusive use of any 

22 customer. 

23 ‘‘(5) INDIVIDUALLY LICENSED EARTH STA24 TION.—The term ‘individually licensed earth station’ 

25 means— 


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1 ‘‘(A) an earth station, other than a blan2 ket-licensed earth station, that sends a signal 

3 to, and receives a signal from— 

4 ‘‘(i) a nongeostationary orbit space 

5 station operated under a license granted 

6 under subsection (c)(1) or a grant of mar7 ket access granted under subsection (d)(1); 

8 or 

9 ‘‘(ii) a geostationary orbit space sta10 tion operated under a license granted 

11 under subsection (c)(2) or a grant of mar12 ket access granted under subsection (d)(2); 

13 or 

14 ‘‘(B) a gateway station. 

15 ‘‘(6) NATIONAL DEFENSE OR SECURITY OF THE

16 UNITED STATES.—The term ‘national defense or se17 curity of the United States’— 

18 ‘‘(A) means the protection of the United 

19 States from foreign aggression; and 

20 ‘‘(B) does not otherwise include the protec21 tion of the general welfare of the United States. 

22 ‘‘(b) RULES.—Not later than 12 months after the 

23 date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall 

24 issue rules to amend part 25 of title 47, Code of Federal 

25 Regulations, to establish— 


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1 ‘‘(1) for any license granted under subsection 

2 (c), specific modifications, or classes of modifica3 tions, to the license that warrant expedited treat4 ment under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, 

5 of subsection (g)(2); 

6 ‘‘(2) for any license granted under subsection 

7 (c), grant of market access granted under subsection 

8 (d), authorization granted under subsection (e), or 

9 covered authorization, the manner in which the li10 censee, grantee, or entity shall notify the Commis11 sion of a request to submit a modification under 

12 subsection (g)(3); 

13 ‘‘(3) rules that seek to promote competition, in14 novation, and efficient use of spectrum by entities 

15 with covered authorizations, including by accounting 

16 for advancements in technology capable of managing 

17 interference concerns to the greatest extent prac18 ticable; and 

19 ‘‘(4) for any application or request for modifica20 tion described in subsection (n), what constitutes re21 portable foreign ownership for purposes of para22 graph (1) of that subsection. 

23 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION FOR LICENSE.— 

24 ‘‘(1) NGSO DETERMINATION REQUIRED.— 

25 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro2 vided in clause (ii), paragraph (5), and 

3 subsection (m), not later than 1 year after 

4 the date on which the Commission issues a 

5 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

6 a written application submitted to the 

7 Commission for a license described in sub8 paragraph (B) of this paragraph, the Com9 mission shall determine whether to grant 

10 the application, including any amendment 

11 to the application. 

12 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—Except 

13 as provided in paragraph (5) and sub14 section (m), if a major amendment (within 

15 the meaning of section 25.116 of title 47, 

16 Code of Federal Regulations, or any suc17 cessor regulation) to an application de18 scribed in clause (i) is submitted to the 

19 Commission, the Commission shall deter20 mine whether to grant the application, in21 cluding the major amendment and any 

22 other amendment to the application, not 

23 later than 1 year after the date on which 

24 the Commission issues a public notice of 


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1 the acceptance for filing of the major 

2 amendment.’’. 

3 ‘‘(B) TYPES OF APPLICATIONS.—An appli4 cation described in this subparagraph is an ap5 plication for a license for covered 

6 radiocommunication services using— 

7 ‘‘(i) a nongeostationary orbit space 

8 station; 

9 ‘‘(ii) a blanket-licensed earth station 

10 or earth stations that will operate with a 

11 nongeostationary orbit space station; or 

12 ‘‘(iii) a nongeostationary orbit space 

13 station and a blanket-licensed earth station 

14 or earth stations that will operate with the 

15 nongeostationary orbit space station. 

16 ‘‘(2) GSO DETERMINATION REQUIRED.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 

18 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro19 vided in clause (ii), paragraph (5), and 

20 subsection (m), not later than 1 year after 

21 the date on which the Commission issues a 

22 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

23 a written application submitted to the 

24 Commission for a license described in sub25 paragraph (B) of this paragraph, the ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Apr 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4010.IS S4010

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1 mission shall determine whether to grant 

2 the application, including any amendment 

3 to the application. 

4 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—Except 

5 as provided in paragraph (5) and sub6 section (m), if a major amendment (within 

7 the meaning of section 25.116 of title 47, 

8 Code of Federal Regulations, or any suc9 cessor regulation) to an application de10 scribed in clause (i) is submitted to the 

11 Commission, the Commission shall deter12 mine whether to grant the application, in13 cluding the major amendment and any 

14 other amendment to the application, not 

15 later than 1 year after the date on which 

16 the Commission issues a public notice of 

17 the acceptance for filing of the major 

18 amendment. 

19 ‘‘(B) TYPES OF APPLICATIONS.—An appli20 cation described in this subparagraph is an ap21 plication for a license for covered 

22 radiocommunication services using— 

23 ‘‘(i) a geostationary orbit space sta24 tion; 


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1 ‘‘(ii) a blanket-licensed earth station 

2 or earth stations that will operate with a 

3 geostationary orbit space station; or 

4 ‘‘(iii) a geostationary orbit space sta5 tion and a blanket-licensed earth station or 

6 earth stations that will operate with the 

7 geostationary orbit space station. 

8 ‘‘(3) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—In addition 

9 to the application requirements described in section 

10 308(b), an application submitted under paragraph 

11 (1) or (2) shall include performance metrics with re12 spect to the frequencies and transmission power to 

13 be used. 

14 ‘‘(4) TERM OF INITIAL LICENSE.—The Com15 mission shall grant a license for a term not to exceed 

16 15 years for any application granted under this sub17 section. 

18 ‘‘(5) EXCEPTIONS.—The deadline for the deter19 mination required in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be 

20 extended by the Commission for an application sub21 ject to review under subsection (m). 

22 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF MARKET AC23 CESS.— 

24 ‘‘(1) NGSO DETERMINATION REQUIRED.— 

25 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro2 vided in clause (ii) and subsection (m), 

3 after the date on which the Commission 

4 issues a public notice of the acceptance for 

5 filing of a written application submitted to 

6 the Commission for market access de7 scribed in subparagraph (B) of this para8 graph, the Commission shall determine 

9 whether to grant the application, including 

10 any amendment to the application. 

11 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—If a 

12 major amendment (within the meaning of 

13 section 25.116 of title 47, Code of Federal 

14 Regulations, or any successor regulation) 

15 to an application described in clause (i) is 

16 submitted to the Commission, the Commis17 sion shall determine whether to grant the 

18 application, including the major amend19 ment and any other amendment to the ap20 plication, not later than 1 year after the 

21 date on which the Commission issues a 

22 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

23 the major amendment. 

24 ‘‘(B) TYPES OF APPLICATIONS.—An appli25 cation described in this subparagraph is an apVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Apr 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4010.IS S4010

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1 plication for market access within the United 

2 States for covered radiocommunication services 

3 using— 

4 ‘‘(i) a nongeostationary orbit space 

5 station; 

6 ‘‘(ii) a blanket-licensed earth station 

7 or earth stations that will operate with a 

8 nongeostationary orbit space station; or 

9 ‘‘(iii) a nongeostationary orbit space 

10 station and a blanket-licensed earth station 

11 or earth stations that will operate with the 

12 nongeostationary orbit space station. 

13 ‘‘(2) GSO DETERMINATION REQUIRED.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 

15 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro16 vided in clause (ii) and subsection (m), 

17 after the date on which the Commission 

18 issues a public notice of the acceptance for 

19 filing of a written application submitted to 

20 the Commission for market access de21 scribed in subparagraph (B), the Commis22 sion shall determine whether to grant the 

23 application, including any amendment to 

24 the application. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—If a 

2 major amendment (within the meaning of 

3 section 25.116 of title 47, Code of Federal 

4 Regulations, or any successor regulation) 

5 to an application described in clause (i) is 

6 submitted to the Commission, the Commis7 sion shall determine whether to grant the 

8 application, including the major amend9 ment and any other amendment to the ap10 plication, not later than 1 year after the 

11 date on which the Commission issues a 

12 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

13 the major amendment. 

14 ‘‘(B) TYPE OF APPLICATION.—An applica15 tion described in this subparagraph is an appli16 cation for market access within the United 

17 States for covered radiocommunication services 

18 using a geostationary orbit space station. 

19 ‘‘(3) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION.—In addition 

20 to the application requirements described in section 

21 308(b), an application submitted under paragraph 

22 (1) or (2) shall include performance metrics with re23 spect to the frequencies and transmission power to 

24 be used. 


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1 ‘‘(4) TERM OF INITIAL GRANT OF MARKET AC2 CESS.—The Commission shall grant market access 

3 for a term not to exceed 15 years for any application 

4 granted under this subsection. 

5 ‘‘(e) EARTH STATION AUTHORIZATION.— 

6 ‘‘(1) DETERMINATION REQUIRED FOR INDIVID7 UALLY LICENSED EARTH STATIONS.— 

8 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 

9 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro10 vided in clause (ii), paragraph (4), and 

11 subsection (m), not later than 180 days 

12 after the date on which the Commission 

13 issues a public notice of the acceptance for 

14 filing of a written application submitted to 

15 the Commission for authorization described 

16 in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the 

17 Commission shall determine whether to 

18 grant the application, including any 

19 amendment to the application. 

20 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—If a 

21 major amendment (within the meaning of 

22 section 25.116 of title 47, Code of Federal 

23 Regulations, or any successor regulation) 

24 to an application described in clause (i) is 

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1 sion shall determine whether to grant the 

2 application, including the major amend3 ment and any other amendment to the ap4 plication, not later than 1 year after the 

5 date on which the Commission issues a 

6 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

7 the major amendment. 

8 ‘‘(B) TYPE OF APPLICATION.—An applica9 tion described in this subparagraph is an appli10 cation for authorization to use an individually 

11 licensed earth station. 

12 ‘‘(2) DETERMINATION REQUIRED FOR RECEIVE13 ONLY EARTH STATIONS.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 

15 ‘‘(i) APPLICATIONS.—Except as pro16 vided in clause (ii), paragraph (3), and 

17 subsection (m), not later than 30 days 

18 after the date on which the Commission 

19 issues a public notice of the acceptance for 

20 filing of a written application submitted to 

21 the Commission for authorization described 

22 in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the 

23 Commission shall determine whether to 

24 grant the application, including any 

25 amendment to the application. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) MAJOR AMENDMENTS.—If a 

2 major amendment (within the meaning of 

3 section 25.116 of title 47, Code of Federal 

4 Regulations, or any successor regulation) 

5 to an application described in clause (i) is 

6 submitted to the Commission, the Commis7 sion shall determine whether to grant the 

8 application, including the major amend9 ment and any other amendment to the ap10 plication, not later than 1 year after the 

11 date on which the Commission issues a 

12 public notice of the acceptance for filing of 

13 the major amendment. 

14 ‘‘(B) TYPES OF APPLICATION.—An appli15 cation described in this subparagraph is an ap16 plication for authorization to use an earth sta17 tion or earth stations to receive a signal from— 

18 ‘‘(i) a nongeostationary orbit space 

19 station operated under a license granted 

20 under subsection (c)(1) or a grant of mar21 ket access granted under subsection (d)(1); 

22 or 

23 ‘‘(ii) a geostationary orbit space sta24 tion operated under a license granted 


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1 under subsection (c)(2) or a grant of mar2 ket access granted under subsection (d)(2). 

3 ‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—The deadline for the deter4 mination required under paragraph (1) or (2) may 

5 be extended by the Commission for an application 

6 subject to review under subsection (n). 

7 ‘‘(4) INAPPLICABILITY TO BLANKET-LICENSED

8 EARTH STATIONS.—This subsection does not apply 

9 with respect to an earth station or earth stations to 

10 the extent that the earth station or earth stations 

11 will be blanket-licensed with a space station, as de12 scribed in subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii), (c)(1)(C)(iii), 

13 (c)(2)(B)(ii), (c)(2)(C)(iii), (d)(1)(B)(ii), or 

14 (d)(1)(C)(iii). 

15 ‘‘(f) RENEWAL OF LICENSE, GRANT OF MARKET AC16 CESS, OR AUTHORIZATION.—Except as provided in sub17 section (m), not later than 180 days after the date on 

18 which the Commission receives a request for renewal of 

19 a license granted under subsection (c), a grant of market 

20 access granted under subsection (d), or an authorization 

21 granted under subsection (e) from the licensee, grantee, 

22 or entity with such authorization, as applicable— 

23 ‘‘(1) if the Commission determines the require24 ments under section 309(k) have been met, the 

25 Commission shall grant the request, including any 


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1 amendment to the request, and renew the license, 

2 grant of market access, or authorization for a term 

3 not to exceed the length of the initial term beginning 

4 the day after the date on which the preceding term 

5 of the license, grant of market access, or authoriza6 tion expires; or 

7 ‘‘(2) the Commission shall make the determina8 tion described in section 309(k)(3) and deny the re9 quest, including any amendment to the request. 

10 ‘‘(g) MODIFICATION OF LICENSE OR GRANT OF MAR11 KET ACCESS.— 

12 ‘‘(1) MAJOR MODIFICATIONS.— 

13 ‘‘(A) NGSO LICENSE MAJOR MODIFICA14 TIONS.—Except as provided in paragraphs (2), 

15 (3), and (4) of this subsection and in subsection 

16 (m), and not later than 1 year after the date 

17 on which the Commission receives a request to 

18 modify a license granted under subsection 

19 (c)(1), the Commission shall grant or deny the 

20 request (including any amendment to the re21 quest). 

22 ‘‘(B) GSO LICENSE AND GRANT OF MAR23 KET ACCESS MAJOR MODIFICATIONS.—Except 

24 as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of 

25 this subsection, the Commission may grant a 


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1 request (including any amendment to the re2 quest) to modify a license granted under sub3 section (c)(2) or a grant of market access 

4 granted under subsection (d). 

5 ‘‘(2) EXPEDITED TREATMENT FOR MINOR

6 MODIFICATIONS.— 

7 ‘‘(A) NGSO LICENSE MODIFICATIONS.— 

8 Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) 

9 of this subsection and in subsections (h) and 

10 (m), and not later than 90 days after the date 

11 on which the Commission receives a request to 

12 modify a license granted under subsection 

13 (c)(1), the Commission shall grant the request, 

14 including any amendment to the request, if the 

15 request is limited only to modifications, or a 

16 class of modifications, that— 

17 ‘‘(i) increase transmission capacity; 

18 ‘‘(ii) improve spectral efficiency, such 

19 as by improving compression technologies; 

20 or 

21 ‘‘(iii) otherwise do not substantially 

22 modify the space station authorized by the 

23 license. 

24 ‘‘(B) GSO LICENSE MODIFICATIONS.—Ex25 cept as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4) of 


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1 this subsection and in subsections (h) and (m), 

2 and not later than 90 days after the date on 

3 which the Commission receives a request to 

4 modify a license granted under subsection 

5 (c)(2), the Commission shall grant the request, 

6 including any amendment to the request, if the 

7 request is limited only to modifications, or a 

8 class of modifications, that— 

9 ‘‘(i) increase transmission capacity; 

10 ‘‘(ii) improve spectral efficiency, such 

11 as by improving compression technologies; 

12 or 

13 ‘‘(iii) otherwise do not substantially 

14 modify the space station authorized by the 

15 license. 

16 ‘‘(C) EXCLUSION.—This paragraph shall 

17 not apply to a request to modify a license for— 

18 ‘‘(i) the addition of an ancillary ter19 restrial component; or 

20 ‘‘(ii) modifying the service offered 

21 under the initial license granted under sub22 section (c) between fixed satellite service 

23 and mobile satellite service. 

24 ‘‘(3) EXPEDITED TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN

25 MODIFICATIONS.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 

2 days after the Commission receives a request to 

3 modify a license granted under subsection (c), 

4 a grant of market access granted under sub5 section (d), an authorization granted under sub6 section (e), or a covered authorization, in order 

7 to conduct a replacement described in subpara8 graph (B), the Commission shall grant or deny 

9 the request. 

10 ‘‘(B) REPLACEMENT.—A replacement de11 scribed in this subparagraph is a replacement 

12 of— 

13 ‘‘(i) 1 space station, or component of 

14 a space station, with a technically similar 

15 space station, or component of a space sta16 tion, previously approved by the Commis17 sion; or 

18 ‘‘(ii) 1 earth station, or component of 

19 an earth station, with a technically similar 

20 earth station, or component of an earth 

21 station, previously approved by the Com22 mission. 

23 ‘‘(4) EXCEPTIONS.—The Commission may ex24 tend the deadlines under paragraphs (1) and (2) for 

25 a request subject to review under subsection (n). 


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1 ‘‘(h) EMERGENCY GRANT, RENEWAL, OR MODIFICA2 TION.—If the Commission finds that there are extraor3 dinary circumstances involving a danger to life or property 

4 or an action that is necessary for the national defense or 

5 security of the United States, the Commission— 

6 ‘‘(1) may grant, for a period not to exceed 180 

7 days in a manner and upon the terms the Commis8 sion shall by rule prescribe— 

9 ‘‘(A) a license described in subsection (c), 

10 a grant of market access described in sub11 section (d), or an authorization described in 

12 subsection (e); 

13 ‘‘(B) a renewal of a license, grant of mar14 ket access, or authorization described in sub15 paragraph (A); or 

16 ‘‘(C) a modification of a license, grant of 

17 market access, or authorization described in 

18 subparagraph (A); 

19 ‘‘(2) shall include with a grant made under this 

20 subsection a statement of the reasons of the Com21 mission for making the grant; 

22 ‘‘(3) may extend a grant made under this sub23 section for a period not to exceed 180 days; and 

24 ‘‘(4) shall give expeditious treatment to any— 


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1 ‘‘(A) timely filed petition to deny a grant 

2 under this subsection; or 

3 ‘‘(B) timely filed petition for rehearing of 

4 a grant made under this subsection that is filed 

5 under section 405. 

6 ‘‘(i) STATE PREEMPTION OF MARKET ENTRY; 

7 RATES.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

9 provision of law, a State or local government may 

10 not regulate the rates charged by— 

11 ‘‘(A) an applicant or licensee with respect 

12 to a license granted under subsection (b); 

13 ‘‘(B) an applicant or grantee with respect 

14 to a grant of market access granted under sub15 section (c); or 

16 ‘‘(C) an applicant or entity with respect to 

17 an authorization granted under subsection (d). 

18 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not pro19 hibit a State or local government from adopting fair 

20 and reasonable regulations governing the other 

21 terms and conditions of a licensee, grantee, or enti22 ty, including regulations to protect aesthetic and 

23 safety interests, provided such regulations do not 

24 prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting market 

25 entry or the provision of service. 


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1 ‘‘(j) REGULATORY RESTRAINT.— 

2 ‘‘(1) LIMITATION ON INFORMATION REQUIRED

3 TO BE PROVIDED.—In performing any act, issuing 

4 any rule or regulation, or issuing any order nec5 essary to carry out this section, the Commission— 

6 ‘‘(A) shall limit the information required to 

7 be furnished to the Commission to that which 

8 is strictly necessary; and 

9 ‘‘(B) with respect to an application filed 

10 under subsection (c), (d), or (e), a request for 

11 renewal made under subsection (f), or a request 

12 for modification made under subsection (g)— 

13 ‘‘(i) may not require the filing of any 

14 information that previously has been fur15 nished to the Commission or that is not di16 rectly material to the considerations that 

17 affect the granting or denial of such appli18 cation or request; and 

19 ‘‘(ii) may require information about 

20 new or additional facts that the Commis21 sion determines necessary to make its find22 ings. 

23 ‘‘(2) DEADLINE FOR PETITION DETERMINA24 TION.—If an applicant for a license or a licensee 

25 under subsection (c) files a petition under part 1 of 


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1 title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any suc2 cessor regulation, relating to information required to 

3 be furnished to the Commission under this section, 

4 the Commission shall grant or deny the petition not 

5 later than 90 days after the date on which the peti6 tion is filed. 

7 ‘‘(k) RELATION TO EXPERIMENTAL AND AMATEUR

8 USES.—This section shall not apply to any Commission 

9 authorization in— 

10 ‘‘(1) the experimental radio service; or 

11 ‘‘(2) the amateur radio service. 

12 ‘‘(l) COMPLETENESS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 

14 after receiving a written application submitted under 

15 subsection (c), (d), or (e), the Commission shall— 

16 ‘‘(A) determine whether— 

17 ‘‘(i) the application contains— 

18 ‘‘(I) in the case of an application 

19 submitted under subsection (c), all of 

20 the information required to be sub21 mitted with the application under sub22 section (c)(3) and the first sentence of 

23 section 308(b); 

24 ‘‘(II) in the case of an applica25 tion submitted under subsection (d), 


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1 all of the information required to be 

2 submitted with the application under 

3 subsection (d)(3) and the first sen4 tence of section 308(b); or 

5 ‘‘(III) in the case of an applica6 tion submitted under subsection (e), 

7 all of the information required to be 

8 submitted with the application under 

9 the first sentence of section 308(b); 

10 and 

11 ‘‘(ii) the applicant has paid the fee, if 

12 any, required under section 8 in connection 

13 with the application; and 

14 ‘‘(B)(i) if both determinations under sub15 paragraph (A) are in the affirmative, issue a 

16 public notice of the acceptance for filing of the 

17 application; or 

18 ‘‘(ii) if either determination under sub19 paragraph (A) is in the negative, provide notice 

20 to the applicant of the negative determination, 

21 including the information required to be sub22 mitted that was not submitted, the amount of 

23 the application fee due, or both, as applicable. 

24 ‘‘(2) INACTION BY COMMISSION.—If the Com25 mission does not comply with paragraph (1) with reVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:13 Apr 05, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4010.IS S4010

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1 spect to an application by the deadline specified in 

2 that paragraph, the Commission shall be deemed for 

3 purposes of subsection (c), (d), or (e), as applicable, 

4 to have issued a public notice of the acceptance for 

5 filing of the application on the date that is 30 days 

6 after the date on which the application was received. 

7 ‘‘(m) TOLLING.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sub9 sections (c)(5), (e)(4), and (g)(4), with respect to an 

10 application for a license under subsection (c) or an 

11 authorization under subsection (e), or a request for 

12 renewal under subsection (f) or modification under 

13 subsection (g) of a license granted under subsection 

14 (c), a grant of market access granted under sub15 section (d), or an authorization granted under sub16 section (e), the Commission may extend the deadline 

17 under subsection (c), (e), (f), or (g), as applicable, 

18 for consideration of the application or request only 

19 if— 

20 ‘‘(A)(i) the Commission finds that there 

21 are extraordinary circumstances involving a 

22 danger to life or property or an action that is 

23 necessary for the national defense or security of 

24 the United States requiring additional time for 

25 consideration of the application or request; or 


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1 ‘‘(ii) a lapse in appropriations occurs with 

2 respect to the Commission granting such appli3 cations; and 

4 ‘‘(B) the Commission publishes and 

5 submits to the Committee on Commerce, 

6 Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

7 and the Committee on Energy and Com8 merce of the House of Representatives a 

9 notice of the finding described in subpara10 graph (A) that states— 

11 ‘‘(i) the reasons of the Commis12 sion for the extension; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) the length of the period of 

14 the extension. 

15 ‘‘(2) LENGTH.—The Commission may not grant 

16 an extension of a deadline under paragraph (1) for 

17 a period that exceeds 90 days or, in the case of a 

18 lapse in appropriations described in paragraph 

19 (1)(A)(ii), the duration of the lapse in appropria20 tions. 

21 ‘‘(3) LIMIT ON EXTENSIONS.—The Commission 

22 may grant not more than 2 extensions of a deadline 

23 under paragraph (1). 

24 ‘‘(n) REVIEW FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND LAW

25 ENFORCEMENT CONCERNS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) REVIEW REQUIRED FOR ENTITIES WITH

2 REPORTABLE FOREIGN OWNERSHIP.—In the case of 

3 an application under subsection (c), (d), or (e), a re4 quest for modification under subsection (g), or a re5 quest for modification of a covered authorization, 

6 that is submitted by an entity that the Commission 

7 determines to have reportable foreign ownership, the 

8 Commission shall refer the application or request to 

9 the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Par10 ticipation in the United States Telecommunications 

11 Services Sector established by Executive Order 

12 13913 (85 Fed. Reg. 19643; relating to the estab13 lishment of the Committee for the Assessment of 

14 Foreign Participation in the United States Tele15 communications Services Sector) (in this subsection 

16 referred to as the ‘Committee’) for review of na17 tional security and law enforcement concerns that 

18 may be raised by the application or request. 

19 ‘‘(2) REVIEW AT DISCRETION OF COMMIS20 SION.—In addition to the applications and requests 

21 that the Commission is required to refer to the Com22 mittee under paragraph (1), the Commission may, in 

23 the discretion of the Commission, refer any other ap24 plication under subsection (c), (d), or (e), request 

25 for modification under subsection (g), or request for 


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1 modification of a covered authorization to the Com2 mittee for review of national security and law en3 forcement concerns that may be raised by the appli4 cation or request. 

5 ‘‘(o) SPECTRUM PROTECTION PLAN UPDATES.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 20, 

7 2028, and biennially thereafter, the Commission 

8 shall review and update the regulations of the Com9 mission that relate to spectrum sharing for non-geo10 stationary orbit and fixed-satellite service. 

11 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—If the Commission deter12 mines that no update under paragraph (1) is re13 quired, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 

14 notice that provides justification for the determina15 tion. 

16 ‘‘(p) ALLEVIATION OF DELAYS FOR CERTAIN APPLI17 CATIONS.— 

18 ‘‘(1) ADDITION OF CERTAIN AUTHORIZED

19 SPACE STATIONS.—The Commission shall permit 

20 non-geostationary orbit operators to add an author21 ized space station as a point of communication to an 

22 authorized ground station on a notification-only 

23 basis without filing an application for modification 

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1 ized space station involves no other changes to the 

2 authorized parameters of the ground stations. 

3 ‘‘(2) EXTENSION OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AU4 THORITY.—The Commission may extend a 60-day 

5 Special Temporary Authority granted under 47 

6 C.F.R. 25.120(b)(3), the request for which was filed 

7 alongside an application for regular nonbroadcast 

8 operation, on its own motion and without placing the 

9 request for Special Temporary Authority on public 

10 notice during the time that the application remains 

11 pending. 

12 ‘‘(q) DEEMED GRANTED.—If the Commission fails to 

13 grant or deny an application or request, including any 

14 amendment to an application or request, submitted under 

15 subsection (c)(1), (c)(2), (e)(1), (e)(2), (g)(1), or (g)(2) 

16 by the deadline for the determination required by such 

17 subsection, the application or request, including an 

18 amendment to an application or request, shall be deemed 

19 granted on the date on which the Commission receives 

20 from the applicant or requestor written notice of the fail21 ure to grant or deny the application or request by the ap22 plicable deadline.’’. 

23 (b) RELATION TO OTHER LAW AMENDMENTS.—Sec24 tion 309 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 

25 309) is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (j)(2)— 

2 (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; 

3 or’’ and inserting a semicolon; 

4 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 

5 subparagraph (D); and 

6 (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 

7 the following: 

8 ‘‘(C) for licenses, grants of market access, 

9 or authorizations granted under section 346; 

10 or’’; and 

11 (2) in subsection (k)— 

12 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘BROAD13 CAST STATION RENEWAL PROCEDURES’’ and 

14 inserting ‘‘RENEWAL PROCEDURES FOR CER15 TAIN AUTHORIZATIONS’’; 

16 (B) in paragraph (1)— 

17 (i) in the matter preceding subpara18 graph (A)— 

19 (I) by inserting ‘‘, the holder of 

20 a license granted under section 

21 346(c), the recipient of a grant of 

22 market access granted under section 

23 346(d), or an entity with authoriza24 tion granted under section 346(e),’’ 

25 after ‘‘broadcast station’’; 


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1 (II) by inserting ‘‘, grant, or au2 thorization’’ after ‘‘such license’’; 

3 (III) by striking ‘‘that station’’ 

4 and inserting ‘‘that licensee, recipient, 

5 or entity’’; and 

6 (IV) by inserting ‘‘, grant of 

7 market access, or authorization’’ after 

8 ‘‘its license’’; 

9 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

10 ‘‘the station’’ and inserting ‘‘in the case of 

11 a broadcast station, the station’’; 

12 (iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 

13 ‘‘, recipient, or entity’’ after ‘‘licensee’’; 

14 and 

15 (iv) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 

16 ‘‘, recipient, or entity’’ after ‘‘licensee’’; 

17 (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, or the 

18 holder of a license granted under section 

19 346(d), the recipient of a grant of market ac20 cess granted under section 346(d), or an entity 

21 with authorization granted under section 

22 346(e),’’ after ‘‘broadcast station’’; 

23 (D) in paragraph (3)— 

24 (i) in the matter preceding subpara25 graph (A), by inserting ‘‘of a broadcast 


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1 station, a holder of a license granted under 

2 section 346(c), a recipient of a grant of 

3 market access granted under section 

4 346(d), or an entity with authorization 

5 granted under section 346(e)’’ after ‘‘that 

6 a licensee’’; 

7 (ii) in subparagraph (A)— 

8 (I) by inserting ‘‘, recipient, or 

9 entity’’ after ‘‘licensee’’; and 

10 (II) by inserting ‘‘or 346’’ after 

11 ‘‘section 308’’; and 

12 (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

13 ‘‘former licensee’’ and inserting ‘‘former li14 censee of a broadcast station or such appli15 cations for a license, grant of market ac16 cess, or authorization as may be filed 

17 under section 346(c), 346(d), or 346(e) 

18 specifying the information of the former li19 censee, recipient, or entity’’; and 

20 (E) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, grant 

21 of market access, or grant of an authorization’’ 

22 after ‘‘license’’. 

23 (c) APPLICABILITY.—The requirements in the 

24 amendments made by this section shall apply with respect 

25 to any application submitted under subsection (c), (d), or 


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1 (e) of section 346 of the Communications Act of 1934, 

2 as added by subsection (a), and any request for renewal 

3 or modification submitted under such section, on or after 

4 the date of enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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