I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 682 

To facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for commercial space launches 

and commercial space reentries. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 31, 2023 

Mr. SOTO (for himself and Mr. DUNN of Florida) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for 

commercial space launches and commercial space reentries. 

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 ‘‘Launch Communica5 tions Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ACCESS TO SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE 

7 LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES. 

8 (a) SERVICE RULES; ALLOCATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 

2 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commis3 sion shall— 

4 (A) complete any proceeding in effect as of 

5 such date of enactment related to the adoption 

6 of service rules for access to the frequencies de7 scribed in subsection (c) for commercial space 

8 launches and commercial space reentries, in9 cluding technical specifications, eligibility re10 quirements, and coordination procedures to pre11 serve the Nation’s defense capabilities; and 

12 (B) allocate on a secondary basis such fre13 quencies for commercial space launches and 

14 commercial space reentries. 

15 (2) COORDINATION WITH NATIONAL TELE16 COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRA17 TION.—The coordination procedures adopted under 

18 paragraph (1)(A) shall include requirements for per19 sons conducting commercial space launches and 

20 commercial space reentries to coordinate with the 

21 Assistant Secretary regarding access to the fre22 quencies described in subsection (c) for commercial 

23 space launches and commercial space reentries. 

24 (3) LIMITATION.—Access to the frequencies de25 scribed in subsection (c) under the service rules 


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1 adopted under paragraph (1)(A), and the allocation 

2 of such frequencies under paragraph (1)(B), shall be 

3 limited to the use of such frequencies for commercial 

4 space launches and commercial space reentries. 

5 (b) STREAMLINING OF PROCESS FOR GRANTING AU6 THORIZATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

7 of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue 

8 new regulations to streamline the process for granting au9 thorizations for access to the frequencies described in sub10 section (c) for commercial space launches and commercial 

11 space reentries so as to provide for— 

12 (1) authorizations that include access to such 

13 frequencies for multiple commercial space launches 

14 from one or more space launch sites and multiple 

15 commercial space reentries to one or more reentry 

16 sites; 

17 (2) authorizations that include access to mul18 tiple uses of such frequencies for commercial space 

19 launch or commercial space reentry; 

20 (3) automation of the processes of the Commis21 sion to review applications for authorizations for ac22 cess to such frequencies for commercial space 

23 launches and commercial space reentries; and 

24 (4) improved coordination by the Commission 

25 with the Assistant Secretary (who shall coordinate 


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1 with the heads of such other Federal agencies as the 

2 Assistant Secretary considers appropriate, which 

3 may include the Secretary of Defense) to increase 

4 the speed of review of applications for authorizations 

5 for access to such frequencies for commercial space 

6 launches and commercial space reentries. 

7 (c) FREQUENCIES DESCRIBED.—The frequencies de8 scribed in this subsection are the following: 

9 (1) The frequencies between 2025–2110 MHz, 

10 2200–2290 MHz, 2360–2395 MHz, and 5650–5925 

11 MHz. 

12 (2) Any additional frequencies identified by the 

13 Commission (in coordination with the Assistant Sec14 retary, in the case of potential impact to Federal 

15 spectrum use) as necessary to conduct commercial 

16 space launches and commercial space reentries. 

17 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Each range of fre18 quencies described in this section shall be construed to be 

19 inclusive of the upper and lower frequencies in the range. 

20 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

21 (1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist22 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 

23 Commerce for Communications and Information. 


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1 (2) COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH.—The term 

2 ‘‘commercial space launch’’ means a launch licensed 

3 under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code. 

4 (3) COMMERCIAL SPACE REENTRY.—The term 

5 ‘‘commercial space reentry’’ means a reentry li6 censed under chapter 509 of title 51, United States 

7 Code. 

8 (4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

9 means the Federal Communications Commission. 

Æ 


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