SIA President Tom Stroup Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Regarding the Growing Importance of Satellites and the Need to Streamline Regulations and Licensing

Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today testified on the expanding importance of satellites and the need for the regulatory framework governing the commercial space industry to keep pace before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology (Committee on Energy and Commerce) hearing titled SAT Streamlining Act: Modernizing Satellite Licensing for the Final Frontier. SIA President Tom Stroup provided testimony on behalf of the Association.

Earlier this month, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced the hearing.

“American innovators are at the leading edge of technological advancements that will serve our families and businesses for years to come. Unfortunately, our laws governing satellite technologies often do not reflect our ability and shared goal to continue that progress,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. “We look forward to a conversation about modernizing our regulations so that bureaucracy and red tape do not prevent another great American century.”

Mr. Stroup testified, “the scale of growth the satellite industry has experienced over the past decade is without precedent in the history of communications, and it is precisely this growth that makes Congressional attention to licensing modernization so timely and important. According to a capacity study released by SIA and BryceTech in March 2026, total NGSO broadband capacity in orbit grew approximately 4,000-fold between 2016 and 2025.”

“As the industry continues to expand, SIA remains focused on five key priorities to help ensure the Country’s continued leadership in commercial space innovation, advancement of national interests, the competitiveness of satellite companies in the U.S. and globally and driving progress for the benefit of all Americans.”

1. Promote American space innovation through streamlined regulations without unnecessary
   red tape and bureaucracy. Congress and the Administration should embrace policies in regulatory areas such as licensing and export controls that allow the market and consumers, not government regulators and policymakers, to choose “winners” and “losers.” SIA looks forward to continuing to support pro-innovation work done by this Congress.
2. Lead standards development internationally. With WRC-27 preparations now actively
   underway and 80% of the WRC-27 agenda addressing space services and technologies, the stakes could not be higher. Without sustained investment and leadership by the United States in the ITU, others — particularly China — will fill the void, threatening U.S. national and economic security interests. SIA urges Congress to ensure the FCC and executive branch agencies have the resources and direction needed to present a unified, pro-innovation U.S. position at WRC-27.
3. Advance responsible space traffic coordination and advocate for the adoption of similar
   policies internationally. The Office of Space Commerce’s work to develop a modern space traffic coordination framework deserves robust Congressional support, and the United States should continue to encourage responsible behavior that minimizes the generation of new orbital debris.
4. Streamline space system procurement for greater efficiency in government acquisition.
   The U.S. government should continue its focus on investing in and procuring cutting-edge satellite capabilities from the commercial space sector, including hardware as well as remote sensing data and analytics, broadband, and other services.
5. Spur development and investment through access to sufficient spectrum resources. The U.S. should ensure sufficient spectrum allocations are available domestically and internationally to support innovative and rapidly growing commercial satellite operations. SIA is supportive of continued investment in FCC staffing and IT infrastructure to power rapid modernization efforts.

During the hearing, Mr. Stroup was joined by fellow SIA member witnesses including Kara Azocar, Vice President of Regulatory & Public Policy, Iridium Communications Inc., and Mr. Shiva Goel, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP.

A written copy of Mr. Stroup’s testimony is now available on the Congress.gov website at the following link: https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/119204/witnesses/HHRG-119-IF16-Wstate-StroupT-20260421.pdf

A video copy of this and other hearings are available on the House Energy and Commerce Hearings and Meetings web page at the following link: https://www.congress.gov/committees/video/house-energy-and-commerce/hsif00

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; AST Space Mobile; Comtech; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; Eutelsat Group; HawkEye 360; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Planet Labs PBC; SES Americom, Inc.; Spire Global Inc.; and Viasat Inc. SIA Associate Members include: The Aerospace Corporation; Artel, LLC; Astranis Space Technologies Corp.; The Boeing Company; ExoAnalytic Solutions; iDirect Government, LLC; Integrasys LLC; Ovzon; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Satcom Direct Government; Skyloom and Telesat. SIA Affiliate Members include: AvL Technologies; COMSAT; Cooley LLP; DLA Piper; Globalstar; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Hogan Lovells; Intrado Life & Safety, Inc.; Jenner & Block; Keysight Technologies, Inc.; Media Broadcast Satellite; Orbital Research; Peraton; Plexus Corp; Sheppard Mullin; Wiley; Xairos Systems Inc., and XTAR, LLC.

Media and PR Contact: Dean Hirasawa
Satellite Industry Association
Email: dhirasawa@sia.org
Endeavour Communications