Launch Communications Act

Bill: 118-s-1648
Sponsor: Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
Introduced: 2023-05-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aviation and airports
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Intergovernmental relations
Radio spectrum allocation
Space flight and exploration
Spacecraft and satellites
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: 

Launch Communications 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. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries.
 
The bill requires the FCC to adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements) to implement the allocation of the frequencies.
 
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 federal or private 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) increased coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to speed the review of such applications.

action_date: 2023-09-18
text: 

Launch Communications 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. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries.

The bill requires the FCC to (1) adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements), and (2) allocate the frequencies.

The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, including by providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more federal or private launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) electronic filing and processing of access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to increase the speed of the review of such applications. 
 
action_date: 2023-10-31
text: 

Launch Communications 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. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries.

The bill requires the FCC to (1) adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements), and (2) allocate the frequencies.

The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, including by providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more federal or private launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) electronic filing and processing of access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to increase the speed of the review of such applications. 
 
action_date: 2024-09-26
text: 

Launch Communications Act

This act 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. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries.

The act requires the FCC to (1) adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements), and (2) allocate the frequencies.

The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, including by providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more federal or private launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) electronic filing and processing of access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to increase the speed of the review of such applications. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-09-26
text: Became Public Law No: 118-85.
action_date: 2024-09-26
text: Became Public Law No: 118-85.
action_date: 2024-09-26
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-09-26
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2024-09-24
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-09-24
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5309)
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5309)
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1648.
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5309-5310)
action_date: 2024-09-17
text: Mrs. Rodgers (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2023-11-06
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2023-11-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2023-11-06
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2023-10-31
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5266-5267; text: CR S5267)
action_date: 2023-10-31
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5266-5267; text: CR S5267)
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 209.
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-09-18
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with amendments. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-07-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-05-17
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 118-85