What This Bill Does
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to create rules that allow commercial space companies to use certain radio frequencies (a range of signals used for communication) when launching spacecraft and bringing them back to Earth. The bill also requires the Commission to make the process for getting permission to use these frequencies faster and simpler for companies.
Who It Affects
Companies conducting commercial space launches and reentries. The Federal Communications Commission. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (a government agency that helps coordinate communications).
Key Provisions
• The Federal Communications Commission must finish creating service rules for companies to use specific radio frequencies during space launches and reentries within 90 days of the law taking effect (Sec. 2(a)(1)).
• Companies launching or landing spacecraft must coordinate with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information before using these radio frequencies (Sec. 2(a)(2)).
• The Commission must create new regulations within 180 days to streamline how companies get approval to use these radio frequencies, including allowing single approvals for multiple launches or landings at federal or private space launch sites (Sec. 2(b)(1) and 2(b)(2)).
• The Commission must automate its review process for applications requesting access to these radio frequencies (Sec. 2(b)(4)).
• The Commission must improve coordination with the Assistant Secretary and other federal agencies to speed up the review of applications (Sec. 2(b)(5)).
What Changes
Companies will have clearer rules about which radio frequencies they can use during space launches and reentries. Getting permission to use these frequencies will become faster through automated processes and streamlined procedures. Companies will be able to get single approvals covering multiple launches or landings instead of seeking separate approvals for each one.
Important Definitions
• Commercial space launch: A launch licensed under federal law (chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code).
• Commercial space reentry: A return to Earth licensed under the same federal law.
• Commission: The Federal Communications Commission.
• Assistant Secretary: The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
IIB
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 682
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JULY 26, 2023
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
AN ACT
To facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for
commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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HR 682 RFS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Launch Communica-
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tions Act’’.
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SEC. 2. ACCESS TO SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE
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LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES.
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(a) SERVICE RULES; ALLOCATION.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after
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the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commis-
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sion shall complete any proceeding in effect as of
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such date of enactment related to the adoption of
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service rules for access to the frequencies described
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in subsection (c) for commercial space launches and
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commercial space reentries, including technical spec-
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ifications, eligibility requirements, coordination pro-
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cedures to preserve the Nation’s defense capabilities,
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and the allocation on a secondary basis of the fre-
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quencies described in subsection (c).
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(2) COORDINATION
WITH
NATIONAL
TELE-
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COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRA-
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TION.—The coordination procedures adopted under
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paragraph (1) shall include requirements for persons
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conducting commercial space launches and commer-
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cial space reentries to coordinate with the Assistant
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Secretary regarding access to the frequencies de-
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scribed in subsection (c) for commercial space
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launches and commercial space reentries.
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HR 682 RFS
(b) STREAMLINING OF PROCESS FOR GRANTING AU-
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THORIZATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the date
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of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue
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new regulations to streamline the process for granting au-
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thorizations for access to the frequencies described in sub-
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section (c) for commercial space launches and commercial
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space reentries so as to provide for—
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(1) authorizations that include access to such
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frequencies for multiple commercial space launches
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from one or more Federal space launch sites and
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multiple commercial space reentries to one or more
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Federal space launch sites;
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(2) authorizations that include access to such
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frequencies for multiple commercial space launches
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from one or more private space launch sites and
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multiple commercial space reentries to one or more
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private space launch sites;
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(3) authorizations that include access to mul-
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tiple uses of such frequencies for commercial space
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launch or commercial space reentry;
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(4) automation of the processes of the Commis-
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sion to review applications for authorizations for ac-
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cess to such frequencies for commercial space
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launches and commercial space reentries; and
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HR 682 RFS
(5) improved coordination by the Commission
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with the Assistant Secretary (who shall coordinate
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with the heads of such other Federal agencies as the
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Assistant Secretary considers appropriate) to in-
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crease the speed of review of applications for author-
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izations for access to such frequencies for commer-
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cial space launches and commercial space reentries.
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(c) FREQUENCIES DESCRIBED.—The frequencies de-
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scribed in this subsection are the frequencies between
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2025 and 2110 megahertz, between 2200 and 2290 mega-
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hertz, between 2360 and 2395 megahertz, and between
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5650 and 5925 megahertz.
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(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—
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(1) FREQUENCY RANGES.—Each range of fre-
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quencies described in this section shall be construed
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to be inclusive of the upper and lower frequencies in
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the range.
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(2) SPECIAL
TEMPORARY
AUTHORITY.—Noth-
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ing in this section may be construed to authorize or
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require elimination or limitation of, or any amend-
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ment to, or otherwise to affect, special temporary
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authority, as provided for by section 1.931 of title
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47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor
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regulation).
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(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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HR 682 RFS
(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
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ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of
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Commerce for Communications and Information.
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(2) COMMERCIAL
SPACE
LAUNCH.—The term
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‘‘commercial space launch’’ means a launch licensed
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under chapter 509 of title 51, United States Code.
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(3) COMMERCIAL SPACE REENTRY.—The term
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‘‘commercial space reentry’’ means a reentry li-
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censed under chapter 509 of title 51, United States
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Code.
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(4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
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means the Federal Communications Commission.
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Passed the House of Representatives July 25, 2023.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.
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