Launch Communications Act
Floor Speech
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 682, the Launch Communications Act.
Over the last decade, we have seen the costs of exploring space drop drastically. As a result, space launches in this country have increased dramatically. In 2013, the FAA authorized eight launches, but by 2022, less than a decade later, the number was 79. The number of space launches from the United States is only expected to increase in the years to come. We must foster and support this growth in order to enhance our national security capabilities and cement our Nation as a global leader in space and other cutting-edge technologies.
Transporting satellites to space cannot happen without launch entities having reliable access to electromagnetic spectrum. Right now the FCC only temporarily allocates spectrum for space launches. Nevertheless, this process is becoming increasingly burdensome given rise in the number of space launches occurring in our country. For the United States to continue its leadership in space, it is imperative that the FCC develop an efficient and effective process to license spectrum for commercial space launches, as well as the space reentries that inevitably must follow.
Now, H.R. 682 addresses these challenges. Specifically, this bill requires the FCC to streamline its process for allocating spectrum usage rights to commercial space launch providers. These efforts will better support these providers as they communicate with their launch vehicles during flight and upon reentry. The bill also directs the FCC to complete a rulemaking proceeding to adopt service rules for the spectrum bands identified in the bill for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Representatives Soto and Dunn for their bipartisan work on this bill. This important bill helps secure America's leadership in the commercial space industry by strengthening our country's position as a prime destination for launching satellites into space.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation in a bipartisan manner, I look forward to its consideration in the Senate, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill coming out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I urge support for this very important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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