Satellite Industry Association Welcomes Unanimous FCC Vote to Establish Space Bureau

Washington, D.C., January 12, 2023 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today expressed that it is encouraged by this week’s announcement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it had unanimously voted to move forward with its space innovation agenda and plans to reorganize and establish a Space Bureau that will better support the needs of the growing space industry.

The Commission unanimously voted to move forward with the International Bureau’s reorganization into a Space Bureau and a standalone Office of International Affairs. In its announcement, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel stated, “the satellite industry is growing at a record pace, but here on the ground our regulatory frameworks for licensing have not kept up.” As part of its new space innovation agenda, the Commission has taken action to speed up regulatory review processes, increase the size of the FCC’s satellite division by 38 percent, create new opportunities for competition in the delivery of satellite broadband services, and modernize spectrum policy to better meet the needs of the next generation Space Age.

“SIA and its members are encouraged by the FCC’s unanimous bi-partisan action designed to better support the commercial satellite, and broader space industry, including spectrum policy that  supports the needs of expanding U.S. leadership in the global space marketplace,” said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association. “Thanks to incredible leaps in innovation in the design, manufacture and deployment of space-based and ground segment technologies, the space industry continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. SIA strongly urges the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly approve the changes being proposed by the FCC.”

“SIA applauds the unanimous Commission decision, and looks forward to the implementation of the Space Bureau so as to bring its benefits  as quickly as possible to the U.S. space industry leadership in the emerging global space economy, including lunar and cislunar activities,” said Jennifer Warren, Executive Committee Chair of the Satellite Industry Association.

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; 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 & Science; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; Aurora Insight; Blue Origin; Comtech; Eutelsat America Corp.; ExoAnalytic Solutions; Hughes; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; Leonardo DRS; Lynk; Omnispace; OneWeb Technologies; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Peraton; Skyloom; SpaceLink; Telesat Canada; ULA and XTAR, LLC. SIA Affiliate Members include: ARA; ATG; Davis Wright Tremaine; EVONA; Genus Group; Hogan Lovells; Integrasys LLC; Kencast; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orange Business Services; Orbital Research; Plexus Corp; SD Government; Sheppard Mullin; Skylo Technologies and Wiley