The Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) is getting ready to launch its own Space Bureau , expanding on its role in regulating a quickly acquire industry in Earth orbit .
On Monday , the FCCadopteda plan to reorganize the agency , transform its International Bureau to a Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs . The latest move is an effort to become more disposed for dealing with the growing satellite manufacture and allocate more resources towards its regulation .
“ The satellite industry is growing at a criminal record pace , but here on the earth our regulatory fabric for licensing have not kept up , ” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in an emailed assertion . “ Today , we are moving forwards with our plan to ready for what comes next . ”
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel first proposed the space bureau in November 2022.Photo: Tom Williams (AP)
To which she bestow : “ A new Space Bureau at the FCC will ensure that the agency ’s resources are appropriately aligned to fulfill its statutory obligations , improve its coordination across the federal government , and support the twenty-first century satellite industry . ”
The FCC still needs Congressional and other commendation to validate the new agreement and make it official . The FCC has not yet stated who will lead the soon - to - be plant Space Bureau .
Rosenworcel had firstannounced the plan to form a Space Bureauin November 2022 as a way for the FCC to keep up with its increase tariff for the satellite and communication industry . Over the preceding two years , the FCC has received covering for 64,000 new satellites and witnessed an eight - fold increase in the act of applications for fixed - satellite overhaul gateway Earth stations , Rosenworcel stated at the time .
The reason why satellites strike under the FCC is because the agency regulates communications transmitted through radio , television , cable , telegram , as well as satellites . The FCC certify radio frequencies used by satellites and ensures that planet wheeler dealer properly handle their defunct satellite junk .
The new Space Bureau will take on responsibilities that already come down under the FCC , such as approving young artificial satellite licenses , regulating orbital communication theory , and dealing with outer space junk , but at a wider scope . TheFCC latterly egress a new orderthat require artificial satellite to reenter Earth ’s atmosphere within five years of their retirement , rather than the previous 25 - year deadline . That move was indicative of the commission want to expand its role in place since the FCC had not place any guidelines regarding the deorbiting of satellites prior to that .
The FCC will also be more involved with space insurance policy . “ The Space Bureau will also serve as a focal degree for coordination with other U.S. government agencies on issue of blank insurance and governance , and will brook the Office of International Affairs for meetings with other country , international organizations and foreign government official that call for infinite policy issue , ” the deputation wrote in its order .
The space industry is comparatively raw and therefore still lacks a proper regulatory framework . The FCC might be pounce in just in metre to take charge of the increase number of orbiter swarm Earth orbit , with the upcoming Space Bureau perhaps setting an important precedent for other regulatory bodies to join the company .
More : SpaceX require to Start Launching Its Next Generation Starlink Satellites Before the End of the Year
HazardsJessica RosenworcelSatelliteSPACEXStarlink
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