FCC Seeks Comment on Streamlining the Satellite Licensing Process 

Federal Communications Commission. Photo: FCC

The FCC is working to improve the licensing procedures for commercial satellites. On Wednesday, the FCC decided to seek comments on changes to its policies and rules for satellite applications. This commission said there are an “unprecedented” number of applications for new satellite systems and it wants to better handle them. 

Specifically, the FCC said it will seek comment on allowing licensees to apply for more than one unbuilt Non-Geostationary (NGSO) satellite system in a given frequency band. It will seek comment on how the FCC should handle inconsistencies and omissions in applications and take comment on processing timelines for review of applications. 

The notice of proposed rulemaking on the issue was called: Expediting Initial Processing of Satellite and Earth Station Applications. 

The FCC is going through changes to support the rapidly developing commercial satellite industry. In November, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed reorganizing the FCC, to create a Space Bureau by splitting the International Bureau, which currently handles international telecommunications and satellite programs and policies.