The House of Representatives passed H.R. 682, the Launch Communications Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto and North Florida Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D. to require the Federal Communications Commission to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries.
“In Central Florida, the busiest space port in the world is right in our backyard at Cape Canaveral. We had a record year of 57 launches from the Cape in 2022 and we’re expecting a total of 87 launches or more this year,” said Rep. Soto, a Democrat, on the House floor. “When we see bad weather, as you could imagine some of these launches start to stack up. Which is why having a lengthy FCC license process for each launch can be cumbersome and costly. That’s why I introduced this bill with my colleague and fellow Floridian Dr. Dunn to streamline the process and ensure our space ports continue to be the most efficient in the world.”
Currently, all commercial missions launching from U.S. soil to space utilize a government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during the 10 minutes it takes to get to orbit.
Ahead of a launch, private companies must apply to the FCC to receive special temporary authority to use this spectrum. In a tedious and inefficient process, the FCC coordinates each separate STA license with multiple federal agencies that could conceivably be using the spectrum at the same time. This process has become highly burdensome to both the government and commercial users applying for the use of this spectrum.
“The Launch Communications Act simplifies a burdensome process so we can maintain our competitiveness and encourage further space exploration,” said Congressman Dunn, a North Florida Republican.
According to Rep. Soto, the Launch Communications Act aims to streamline the bureaucratic elements of the rocket launching process, making it easier for private companies to obtain authorization and temporary use of the necessary spectrums.
After the House passage, the Launch Communications Act is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.
For the full text of the bill, click here.
