I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8288 
To facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for commercial space launches 
and commercial space reentries. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 5, 2022 
Mr. SOTO (for himself and Mr. DUNN) 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 ‘‘Leveraging American 
Understanding of Next-generation Challenges Exploring 
Space Act’’ or the ‘‘LAUNCHES Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE 
LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES. 
(a) SERVICE RULES; ALLOCATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall— 
(A) complete any proceeding in effect as of 
such date of enactment related to the adoption 
of service rules for access to the frequencies de-
scribed in subsection (c) for commercial space 
launches and commercial space reentries, in-
cluding technical specifications, eligibility re-
quirements, and coordination procedures to pre-
serve the Nation’s defense capabilities; and 
(B) allocate on a secondary basis such fre-
quencies for commercial space launches and 
commercial space reentries. 
(2) COORDINATION
WITH
NATIONAL
TELE-
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRA-
TION.—The coordination procedures adopted under 
paragraph (1)(A) shall include requirements for per-
sons conducting commercial space launches and 
commercial space reentries to coordinate with the 
Assistant Secretary regarding access to the fre-
quencies described in subsection (c) for commercial 
space launches and commercial space reentries. 
(3) LIMITATION.—Access to the frequencies de-
scribed in subsection (c) under the service rules 
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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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