Secure Space Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-2458
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2025-03-27
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Internet, web applications, social media

Licensing and registrations

Spacecraft and satellites

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-29
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-03-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Secure Space Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or earth station authorizations, including U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellites, to specified foreign entities of concern and their affiliates. (Earth stations, also commonly known as ground stations, are earth-based radio stations that communicate with satellites. A grant of U.S. market access permits one or more foreign-licensed satellites to communicate with one or more U.S.-licensed earth stations.)</p><p>Specifically, the FCC may not grant a satellite license, an earth station authorization, or market access to any entity, or an affiliate thereof, that produces or provides communications equipment or services deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. (The FCC maintains a list of such equipment and services, known as the Covered List. Providers of such equipment and services include, for example, Huawei Technologies Company and ZTE Corporation.)&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2458 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Space Act of 2025 . 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 9 the following: 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if such license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by— (1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or (2) an affiliate (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 )) of an entity described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Blanket-licensed earth station The term blanket-licensed earth station means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system. (2) Gateway station The term gateway station means an earth station or a group of earth stations that— (A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; (B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions; (C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and (D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer. (3) Individually licensed earth station The term individually licensed earth station means— (A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or (B) a gateway station. . (b) Applicability Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Rules Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2458 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Space Act of 2025 . 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 9 the following: 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if such license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by— (1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or (2) an affiliate (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 )) of an entity described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Blanket-licensed earth station The term blanket-licensed earth station means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system. (2) Gateway station The term gateway station means an earth station or a group of earth stations that— (A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; (B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions; (C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and (D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer. (3) Individually licensed earth station The term individually licensed earth station means— (A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or (B) a gateway station. . (b) Applicability Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Rules Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2458 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 27, 2025 Mr. Pallone (for himself and Mr. Guthrie ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Space Act of 2025 . 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 9 the following: 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if such license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by— (1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or (2) an affiliate (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 )) of an entity described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Blanket-licensed earth station The term blanket-licensed earth station means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system. (2) Gateway station The term gateway station means an earth station or a group of earth stations that— (A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; (B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions; (C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and (D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer. (3) Individually licensed earth station The term individually licensed earth station means— (A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or (B) a gateway station. . (b) Applicability Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Rules Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 42 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2458 [Report No. 119–65] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 27, 2025 Mr. Pallone (for himself and Mr. Guthrie ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce April 24, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Secure Space Act of 2025 . 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 ( 47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 9 the following: 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations (a) In general The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if such license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by— (1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or (2) an affiliate (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 153 )) of an entity described in paragraph (1). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Blanket-licensed earth station The term blanket-licensed earth station means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system. (2) Gateway station The term gateway station means an earth station or a group of earth stations that— (A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; (B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions; (C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and (D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer. (3) Individually licensed earth station The term individually licensed earth station means— (A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or (B) a gateway station. . (b) Applicability Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Rules Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

April 24, 2025 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed