H.R. 682 · 118th Congress
Launch Communications Act
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Passed the House without a recorded vote, then expired. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted, but didn't become law before the 118th Congress ended.
D
SotoSponsor1 cosponsor · 1 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
- House Introduced Jan 31, 2023
- House Passed Jul 25, 2023
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries.
What it does: CRS summary · Passed House · Jul 25, 2023
Launch Communications Act
This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries.
Under current law, commercial missions launching from the United States to space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during launch, and private companies must apply to the FCC to receive special temporary authority to use such spectrum. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries.
The bill requires the FCC to adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements) to implement the allocation of the frequencies.
The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations to provide for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more (federal or private) launch sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) automation of the FCC's review process for access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to speed the review of such applications.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Launch Communications Act
Latest action (Jul 26, 2023): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 31, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- House Introduced Jan 31, 2023
- House Passed Jul 25, 2023
No recorded floor vote found.