S. 1962: Secure Space Act of 2025

The Secure Space Act of 2025 aims to amend a previous law, the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, to impose stricter regulations on satellite licensing and market access in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of the key points of the bill:

Prohibition on Licensing

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will not be allowed to grant licenses for geostationary or non-geostationary orbit satellite systems.
• No market access will be granted for these satellite systems if the license would be held or controlled by:
  • Any entity that produces or provides covered communications equipment or services.
  • An affiliate of such an entity.

Definitions

• Affiliate: An entity that is owned or controlled by, or owns or controls, another entity.
• Covered communications equipment or service: Although not specifically defined in this summary, it generally refers to technology considered a risk to national security.
• Earth Station Types:
  • Blanket-licensed earth station: Licensed to operate with a geostationary or non-geostationary satellite system.
  • Individually licensed earth station: An earth station that can directly send and receive signals from satellite systems or acts as a gateway station.
  • Gateway station: An earth station/group that supports routing functions but does not originate or terminate communication traffic exclusively.

Implementation and Applicability

• The prohibitions will apply to any licenses or market access petitions submitted after the act is enacted.
• The FCC is required to create rules to enforce these new regulations within one year of the bill's enactment.

Relevant Companies

None found