U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2nd Annual Space Summit

On Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held its second Annual Space Summit entitled “LAUNCH: The Space Economy” in Washington, DC.   The Summit was a full day event centered around the opportunities and challenges associated with a growing...

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2nd Annual Space Summit

IAC 2019

From October 21-25, the global space community came together in Washington, DC for the 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Traditionally, IAC has been a central forum of discussion for stakeholders from all space sectors around the globe, covering...

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70th International Astronautical Congress IAC 2019

NTIA Spectrum Policy Symposium

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) held its second Spectrum Policy Symposium on September 10th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The Symposium provided a high-level forum for government and commercial actors to discuss...

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Satellite Spectrum

New FCC Streamlined Procedures for Licensing of Smallsats

This month, the FCC unanimously approved a new, optional set of streamlined procedures for licensing small satellites (“smallsats”) (FCC 19-81, IB Docket No. 18-86). The new set of procedures seeks to accommodate this fast-growing segment of the space sector. This...

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Smallsat Regulatory FCC

Secure World Foundation Space Sustainability Summit

The Secure World Foundation held the inaugural Summit for Space Sustainability on June 25-26 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The Summit was a high-level event centered around challenges and solutions for space sustainability. Panelists addressed the...

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Secure World Foundation Space Sustainability Summit

Space Enterprise Summit

The inaugural Space Enterprise Summit convened on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. Co-sponsored by the State Department and the Department of Commerce, the two-day event brought together government, diplomatic, industry, and scientific leaders from the U.S. and around the world to discuss issues and approaches to building the “trillion-dollar economy” in space. Read More
Satellite Market Access Image

Lachs Moot Court Competition

This weekend, the 27th Manfred Lachs International Space Law Moot Court Competition North American Rounds will be held at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. The Manfred Lachs Moot is an international moot court competition held each year by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) to give law students a chance to engage with current issues in space law and test their legal researching, writing, and oratorical skills. The international competition is divided into four global regions, and the winners of each region ... Read More
Photo of Judge Court Gavel

US Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Changes

Speaking to the National Space Symposium, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recounted a meeting with CEOs in the US space industry, stating, “I heard the same comments over and over—the current licensing processes take too long, are unpredictable, and provide no...

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regulations

Swimming with the Sharks: The 3.7-4.2 GHz Proceeding

The FCC recently released the final text of its Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band. A draft was issued last month and the FCC considered the matter at its Open Meeting on July 12th. At the Open Meeting, all...

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Swimming with the Sharks: The 3.7-4.2 GHz Proceeding

FCC’S 3.7-4.2 GHz Order AND NPRM – Client Alert

The FCC has approved an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band.  The document proposes expanded terrestrial use of the band and seeks comment on the mechanisms for integrating new and incumbent use.  Coming on...

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Europe’s New General Data Protection Regulation

The European Union has adopted massive changes to its data protection policy with the new General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679; “Regulation” or “GDPR”) which will be enforced beginning 25 May 2018. The obligations assigned by the new regulation...

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European GDPR General Data Protection Regulation

FCC Freeze in C-Band

Late yesterday the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a public notice announcing a freeze, effective as of April 19, 2018, on the filing of new or modification applications for fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth station licenses, receive-only earth station registrations, and fixed microwave licenses in the 3.7-4.2 GHz frequency band, the downlink portion of the C-band. Read More
FCC Freeze in C-Band

NPRM on Streamlining Licensing Procedures for Small Satellites

Last week, the FCC released the text of a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) ahead of its April meeting that seeks comments on a streamlined licensing process for small satellites (“smallsats”) (IB Docket 18-86; DOC-349939A1.pdf; citations herein to paragraph numbers).  The draft NPRM asks for input on characteristics defining smallsats, details of the new streamlined procedure, and possible frequency allocation changes. The draft NPRM proposes no more than 10 satellites be included in a single smallsat license application and whether a limit should be imposed on the number of applications that can be filed by a single entity. (¶27)  No satellite could exceed 180kg mass, and all satellites must be larger than 10cm3 to ensure that they are trackable. Read More
Purple Sky with Satellite Dish Point Up to the Heavens