[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1648 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1648
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial
space launches and commercial space reentries, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Launch Communications Act''.
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE
LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES.
(a) Service Rules; Allocation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall--
(A) complete any proceeding in effect as of such
date of enactment related to the adoption of service
rules for access to the frequencies described in
subsection (c) for commercial space launches and
commercial space reentries, including technical
specifications, eligibility requirements, and
coordination procedures to preserve the defense
capabilities of the United States; and
(B) allocate on a secondary basis such frequencies
for commercial space launches and commercial space
reentries.
(2) Coordination with national telecommunications and
information administration.--The coordination procedures
adopted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include requirements for
persons conducting commercial space launches and commercial
space reentries to coordinate with the Assistant Secretary
regarding access to the frequencies described in subsection (c)
for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
(3) Limitation.--Access to the frequencies described in
subsection (c) in accordance with the service rules adopted
under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), and the allocation of
such frequencies under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph,
shall be limited to the use of such frequencies for commercial
space launches and commercial space reentries.
(b) Streamlining of Process for Granting Authorizations.--Not later
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall issue new regulations to streamline the process for
granting authorizations for access to the frequencies described in
subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space
reentries so as to provide for--
(1) authorizations that include access to such frequencies
for multiple commercial space launches from 1 or more Federal
space launch sites and multiple commercial space reentries to 1
or more Federal space reentry sites;
(2) authorizations that include access to such frequencies
for multiple commercial space launches from 1 or more private
space launch sites and multiple commercial space reentries to 1
or more private space reentry sites, upon successful
coordination with any Federal space launch site within a range
for access to such frequencies such that such a commercial
space launch or commercial space reentry would not cause
harmful interference with Federal systems;
(3) authorizations that include access to multiple uses of
such frequencies for commercial space launch or commercial
space reentry;
(4) electronic filing and processing of applications for
authorizations for access to such frequencies for commercial
space launches and commercial space reentries; and
(5) improved coordination by the Commission with the
Assistant Secretary (who shall coordinate with the head of any
other Federal agency, as the Assistant Secretary considers
appropriate) to increase the speed of review of applications
for authorizations for access to such frequencies for
commercial space launches and commercial space reentries,
including coordination to increase automation similar to the
automation described in the service rules established by the
Commission and the Assistant Secretary to promote the
development and use, by entities other than the Federal
Government, of spectrum in other bands, including bands with
the frequencies between 71 and 76 gigahertz, between 81 and 86
gigahertz, and between 92 and 95 gigahertz.
(c) Frequencies Described.--The frequencies described in this
subsection are the frequencies between 2025 and 2110 megahertz, between
2200 and 2290 megahertz, and between 2360 and 2395 megahertz.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Each range of frequencies described in
this section shall be construed to be inclusive of the upper and lower
frequencies in the range.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information.
(2) Commercial space launch.--The term ``commercial space
launch'' means a launch licensed under chapter 509 of title 51,
United States Code.
(3) Commercial space reentry.--The term ``commercial space
reentry'' means a reentry licensed under chapter 509 of title
51, United States Code.
(4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
Passed the Senate October 31, 2023.
Attest:
Secretary.
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1648
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial
space launches and commercial space reentries, and for other purposes.