[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1648 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1648

  To facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial 
 space launches and commercial space reentries, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2023

Mr. Schmitt (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial 
 space launches and commercial space reentries, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Launch Communications Act''.

SEC. 2. ACCESS TO ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE 
              LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES.

    (a) Service Rules; Allocation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall--
                    (A) complete any proceeding in effect as of such 
                date of enactment related to the adoption of service 
                rules for access to the frequencies described in 
                subsection (c) for commercial space launches and 
                commercial space reentries, including technical 
                specifications, eligibility requirements, and 
                coordination procedures to preserve the defense 
                capabilities of the United States; and
                    (B) allocate on a secondary basis such frequencies 
                for commercial space launches and commercial space 
                reentries.
            (2) Coordination with national telecommunications and 
        information administration.--The coordination procedures 
        adopted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include requirements for 
        persons conducting commercial space launches and commercial 
        space reentries to coordinate with the Assistant Secretary 
        regarding access to the frequencies described in subsection (c) 
        for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
            (3) Limitation.--Access to the frequencies described in 
        subsection (c) in accordance with the service rules adopted 
        under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), and the allocation of 
        such frequencies under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph, 
        shall be limited to the use of such frequencies for commercial 
        space launches and commercial space reentries.
    (b) Streamlining of Process for Granting Authorizations.--Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall issue new regulations to streamline the process for 
granting authorizations for access to the frequencies described in 
subsection (c) for commercial space launches and commercial space 
reentries so as to provide for--
            (1) authorizations that include access to such frequencies 
        for multiple commercial space launches from 1 or more Federal 
        space launch sites and multiple commercial space reentries to 1 
        or more Federal space launch sites;
            (2) authorizations that include access to such frequencies 
        for multiple commercial space launches from 1 or more private 
        space launch sites and multiple commercial space reentries to 1 
        or more private space launch sites, upon successful 
        coordination with any Federal space launch site within a range 
        for access to such frequencies such that such a commercial 
        space launch or commercial space reentry would cause harmful 
        interference with Federal systems;
            (3) authorizations that include access to multiple uses of 
        such frequencies for commercial space launch or commercial 
        space reentry;
            (4) automation of the processes of the Commission to review 
        applications for authorizations for access to such frequencies 
        for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries; 
        and
            (5) improved coordination by the Commission with the 
        Assistant Secretary (who shall coordinate with the head of any 
        other Federal agency, as the Assistant Secretary considers 
        appropriate) to increase the speed of review of applications 
        for authorizations for access to such frequencies for 
        commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
    (c) Frequencies Described.--The frequencies described in this 
subsection are the frequencies between 2025 and 2110 megahertz, between 
2200 and 2290 megahertz, and between 2360 and 2395 megahertz.
    (d) Rule of Construction.--Each range of frequencies described in 
this section shall be construed to be inclusive of the upper and lower 
frequencies in the range.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
        means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
        and Information.
            (2) Commercial space launch.--The term ``commercial space 
        launch'' means a launch licensed under chapter 509 of title 51, 
        United States Code.
            (3) Commercial space reentry.--The term ``commercial space 
        reentry'' means a reentry licensed under chapter 509 of title 
        51, United States Code.
            (4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Communications Commission.
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