FCC Releases Further Notice in Satellite Launch Proceeding Involving 70 and 5 Centimeters

The FCC is soliciting a second round of comments on whether to authorize commercial space entities to obtain licenses for frequencies used exclusively during space launch activities. The proposals include parts of the 70-centimeter (420 – 430 MHz) and 5-centimeter (5650 – 5925 MHz) bands. The federal government is allocated this spectrum on a primary basis and routinely uses it during space launches, but commercial space companies must obtain short-term Special Temporary Authority (STA) authorizations from the FCC to use it for the same purpose.

The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in commercial space launches. In March, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) streamlined its commercial space launch and reentry licensing regulations. In April, the FCC adopted some of its proposals from 2013 and solicited additional comment in a Further Notice on the above proposals in ET Docket No. 13-115, “Allocation of Spectrum for Non-Federal Space Launch Operations.” The proposals would allow private commercial space companies to obtain regular FCC licenses instead of launch-specific STAs in a number of bands, including 420 – 430 MHz and 5650 – 5925 MHz. The federal government, including the US Department of Defense, is the primary user of both bands. Amateur operations are allocated on a secondary basis. The FCC again seeks comment on whether it should give commercial space launch entities access to the same limited space launch uses already employed by the federal government on this spectrum.