National Space Council Bringing Space Regulatory Recommendations to White House
The National Space Council will bring to the president an array of recommendations, including that NTIA and the FCC work with the Commerce Department on spectrum protection policies that also facilitate commercial space activities. Among recommendations the NSC adopted at…
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its Wednesday meeting at the Kennedy Space Center were a series from the Commerce Department, including relocating the Office of Space Commerce and all commercial remote sensing regulatory functions from NOAA, so they report directly to the Commerce secretary. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told the NSC a head of the Office of Space Commerce will be chosen soon. He also said Commerce is giving NTIA more funding for space-focused activities. Ross said Commerce is recommending it and the commercial space industry work on regulations for a mission authorization framework for all Newspace commercial activities, with those regulatory framework recommendations to be made by July 1. He said Commerce, the State Department and DOD jointly need to simplify the commercial remote sensing licensing regime. The current permitting process, which can run as long as five years, "is unacceptable and must change," Ross said. Vice President Mike Pence said recommendations for streamlined export controls affecting commercial space activities should be ready by year's end, and recommendations for a streamlined launch authorization process by March 1, 2019. Satellite Industry Association President Tom Stroup told the NSC satellite operators need regulators to allocate sufficient spectrum for satellite use and to support satellite spectrum needs at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference. In prepared remarks, he also urged regulatory streamlining and faster turnaround in regulatory approvals, plus "common sense" rules for space safety and orbital debris.