Commerce Department Streamlines Satellite Licensing Regulations

Washington, D.C., May 22, 2020 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today announced that it strongly applauds the United States Department of Commerce after it released updated commercial remote sensing satellite regulations that remove regulatory barriers and support U.S. leadership in the commercial space industry.

Earlier this week, the Commerce department announced new regulations to improve the licensing process for private U.S. satellite remote sensing operations.  In a press release, the department stated, “The new final rules increase openness and transparency in the licensing process, will eliminate most restrictions on how licensed remote sensing systems may be operated, such as limits on the resolution of imagery, and prohibit the government from imposing additional conditions after a license has been issued. Most importantly, the new regulations require the U.S. government to assess the remote sensing data already planned or available in the market to determine whether any conditions should be applied to U.S. licensees.”

“For the past several years, SIA has been advocating for reform of the licensing regime that regulates the commercial remote sensing satellite industry.  The Association applauds the Commerce department for the newly announced reforms and SIA thanks Commerce Secretary Ross and Director O’Connell of the Office of Space Commerce for their leadership and diligence,” said Tom Stroup, President of the Satellite Industry Association.  “Thanks to innovations in satellite technology, Earth observation and remote sensing is one of the fastest growing segments of the commercial satellite industry.  Streamlining the licensing process will help enable continued innovation, decrease regulatory and licensing delays and ensure American leadership in commercial space and satellite remote sensing.”

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About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: Amazon; AT&T Services, Inc.; The Boeing Company; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; ; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.;  ; Amazon Web Services; Analytical Graphics, Inc.; Artel, LLC; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Blue Origin; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Globalstar, Inc.; HawkEye 360; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Lynk; Omnispace; Satellites; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; Planet; Telesat Canada; and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; AQYR Technologies; COMSAT; Envistacom, LLC; Integrasys LLC, Kaman Precision Products; Kencast; Media Broadcast Satellite; NB+C; ; Plexus Corp; Radeus Labs, Inc.; RUAG Space; Sheppard Mullin; Skylo Technologies; and Wiley