Satellite Industry Association Commends National Spectrum Strategy Call for Expanded Spectrum for Space-based Services

Washington, D.C., November 14, 2023 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today complimented the Administration on its announcement of a National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) for the United States. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce, developed the Strategy in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Executive Branch agencies that rely on spectrum for their missions. The Strategy proposes to expand access to advanced networks and technologies, including satellite or space-based services, for the benefit of all Americans.

“SIA commends the White House, NTIA, and the FCC for recognizing the critical importance to expand spectrum for space-based communications and services while further helping to ensure continued U.S. innovation and leadership in the commercial space industry,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “SIA calls on policymakers to ensure that critical existing commercial satellite spectrum capabilities are protected in the process of studying bands for potential repurposing, as called for in the NSS. The Association also supports the Administration’s emphasis on the need to modernize the spectrum workforce to foster innovation and new technological advancements and help ensure long-term U.S. space industry leadership. SIA looks forward to continuing to work with NTIA and FCC in implementation of the strategy to ensure the protection of current satellite capabilities and to further address the ongoing needs of the rapidly growing space industry, which provides vital services to hundreds of millions of Americans each day.”

As part of the Department of Commerce, NTIA serves as the President’s principal advisor on telecommunications policies and manages the use of the radio-frequency spectrum by federal agencies. Earlier this year, NTIA requested public comment and input from stakeholders, such as SIA, on the development and implementation of a National Spectrum Strategy to address the needs of spectrum reliant services including the commercial satellite industry and other space-based systems. SIA and several of its member companies submitted comments in response to the NTIA request. To view a copy of the SIA comments, please click HERE.

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; The Boeing Company; Comtech; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; HawkEye 360; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman; OneWeb; Planet Labs PBC; SES Americom, Inc.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; AST Space Mobile; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Skyloom; Telesat; ULA and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP; AvL Technologies; Digital Locations, Inc.; DLA Piper; EVONA; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business; Orbital Research; Peraton; Plexus Corp; SD Government; Sheppard Mullin and Wiley