LAUNCHES Act

To facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Leveraging American Understanding of Next-generation Challenges Exploring Space Act LAUNCHES Act 2. Access to spectrum for commercial space launches and reentries (a) Service rules; allocation (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall— (A) adopt service rules for access to the frequencies described in subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries, including technical specifications, eligibility requirements, and coordination procedures to preserve the Nation’s defense capabilities; and (B) allocate on a co-primary basis the frequencies described in subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries. (2) Coordination with Secretary of Defense The coordination procedures adopted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include requirements for persons conducting commercial space launches and commercial space reentries to coordinate with the Secretary of Defense regarding access to the frequencies described in subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries. (b) Streamlining of process for granting authorizations Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall streamline the process for granting authorizations for access to the frequencies described in subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries to provide for— (1) authorizations that include access to such frequencies for multiple commercial space launches from one or more space launch sites and multiple commercial space reentries to one or more reentry sites; (2) authorizations that include access to multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or commercial space reentry; (3) automation of the processes of the Commission to review applications for authorizations for access to such frequencies for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries; and (4) improved coordination by the Commission with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information (who shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to increase the speed of review of applications for authorizations for access to such frequencies for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries. (c) Frequencies described The frequencies described in this subsection are the following: (1) The frequencies between 2025 megahertz and 2110 megahertz. (2) The frequencies between 2200 megahertz and 2290 megahertz. (3) The frequencies between 2360 megahertz and 2395 megahertz. (4) The frequencies between 5650 megahertz and 5925 megahertz. (d) Rule of construction Each range of frequencies described in this section shall be construed to be inclusive of the upper and lower frequencies in the range. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Commercial space launch The term commercial space launch chapter 509 (2) Commercial space reentry The term commercial space reentry chapter 509 (3) Commission The term Commission

Summary: Leveraging American Understanding of Next-generation Challenges Exploring Space Act or the LAUNCHES Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries. Under current law, commercial missions launching from the United States to space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during launch, and private companies must apply to the FCC to receive special temporary authority to use such spectrum. The bill requires the FCC to adopt service rules for access to specified frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and to allocate such frequencies on a co-primary basis for such launches and reentries. The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) automation of the FCC's review process for access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to increase the speed of review for such applications.