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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Launch Communica-
tions Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE 
LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES. 
(a) SERVICE RULES; ALLOCATION.— 
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adopted under paragraph (1)(A), and the allocation 
of such frequencies under paragraph (1)(B), shall be 
limited to the use of such frequencies for commercial 
space launches and commercial space reentries. 
(b) STREAMLINING OF PROCESS FOR GRANTING AU-
THORIZATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue 
new regulations to streamline the process for granting au-
thorizations for access to the frequencies described in sub-
section (c) for commercial space launches and commercial 
space reentries so as 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 mul-
tiple uses of such frequencies for commercial space 
launch or commercial space reentry; 
(3) automation of the processes of the Commis-
sion to review applications for authorizations for ac-
cess to such frequencies for commercial space 
launches and commercial space reentries; and 
(4) improved coordination by the Commission 
with the Assistant Secretary (who shall coordinate 
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with the heads of such other Federal agencies as the 
Assistant Secretary considers appropriate, which 
may include the Secretary of Defense) 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 de-
scribed in this subsection are the following: 
(1) The frequencies between 2025–2110 MHz, 
2200–2290 MHz, 2360–2395 MHz, and 5650–5925 
MHz. 
(2) Any additional frequencies identified by the 
Commission (in coordination with the Assistant Sec-
retary, in the case of potential impact to Federal 
spectrum use) as necessary to conduct commercial 
space launches and commercial space reentries. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Each range of fre-
quencies 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) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and Information. 
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(2) COMMERCIAL
SPACE
LAUNCH.—The term 
‘‘commercial space launch’’ means a launch licensed 
under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code. 
(3) COMMERCIAL SPACE REENTRY.—The term 
‘‘commercial space reentry’’ means a reentry li-
censed under chapter 509 of title 51, United States 
Code. 
(4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
Æ 
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