Satellite Industry Association Encourages Swift Passage of Proposed Satellite Cybersecurity Legislation

Washington, D.C., April 28, 2022 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) announced its strong support for the Satellite Cybersecurity Act, legislation that was introduced in the United States House of Representatives earlier today and was previously reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

The bipartisan legislation sponsored by Congressmen Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to provide cybersecurity resources to commercial satellite owners and operators.  Commercial satellites provide data and services that are used by hundreds of millions of Americans each day.  Industrial Control Systems – the technology involved in operating critical infrastructure networks like pipelines, and water and electric utilities – are also heavily reliant on commercial satellites. The proposed legislation would help ensure protection of these vital satellite services and networks from online cyber-attacks.

“SIA strongly supports these bills and applauds their bipartisan House and Senate sponsors.  This legislation will help protect satellite systems against cyber-related vulnerabilities, risks and attacks,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Cybersecurity is critical to the satellite industry’s core goal of providing mission critical, highly reliable, and secure connectivity, communications and services and that is why SIA and its members have continuously worked with the CISA Communications Sector Coordinating Council and Space Systems Working Group plus other agencies and associations regarding cyber issues and best practices. Given the reliance of our economy and national security on secure satellite services, evolving potential attacks by criminals, terrorists, and nation-states must perpetually be under consideration.  SIA applauds the proposed bipartisan legislation and we encourage lawmakers to swiftly pass the Satellite Cybersecurity Act.”

The proposed legislation will require CISA to develop voluntary satellite cybersecurity recommendations to help companies understand how to best secure their systems. Additionally, the bill requires CISA develops an online resource to ensure companies can easily access satellite-specific cybersecurity resources and recommendations to secure their networks. The Satellite Cybersecurity Act will also require the Government Accountability Office to perform a study on how the federal government supports commercial satellite industry cybersecurity.

To view a copy of the proposed legislation, please click on the following links.  Text – S.3511 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Satellite Cybersecurity Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

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; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; HawkEye 360; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; OneWeb; Planet; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; The Aerospace Corporation; Amazon Web Services; Artel, LLC; AST & Science; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Blue Origin; Comtech; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; SpaceLink; Telesat Canada; ULA; UltiSat and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: ARA; Aurora Insight; COMSAT; Davis Wright Tremaine; Envistacom, LLC; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Kencast; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business Services; Plexus Corp; Sheppard Mullin; Skylo Technologies and Wiley