Calendar No. 557

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1962

[Report No. 119–138]


To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 5, 2025

Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

September 14, 2026

Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment and an amendment to the title

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

A BILL

To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, 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 “Secure Space Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations.

(a) In general.—The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 9 the following:

“SEC. 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) AFFILIATE.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘affiliate’ means an entity that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another entity.

“(B) OWN.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘own’ means to have, possess, or otherwise control an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of not less than 10 percent.

“(2) BLANKET-LICENSED EARTH STATION.—The term ‘blanket-licensed earth station’ means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system.

“(3) GATEWAY STATION.—The term ‘gateway station’ means an earth station or a group of earth stations that—

“(A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system;

“(B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions;

“(C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and

“(D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer.

“(4) INDIVIDUALLY LICENSED EARTH STATION.—The term ‘individually licensed earth station’ means—

“(A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or

“(B) a gateway station.

“(b) Prohibition.—The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by—

“(1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or

“(2) an affiliate of an entity described in paragraph (1).”.

(b) Applicability.—Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) Rules.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Secure Space Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations.

(a) In general.—The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 9 the following:

“SEC. 10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) AFFILIATE.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘affiliate’ means an entity that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another entity.

“(B) OWN.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘own’ means to have, possess, or otherwise control an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of not less than 10 percent.

“(2) BLANKET-LICENSED EARTH STATION.—The term ‘blanket-licensed earth station’ means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system.

“(3) GATEWAY STATION.—The term ‘gateway station’ means an earth station or a group of earth stations that—

“(A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system;

“(B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions;

“(C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and

“(D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer.

“(4) INDIVIDUALLY LICENSED EARTH STATION.—The term ‘individually licensed earth station’ means—

“(A) an earth station (other than a blanket-licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or

“(B) a gateway station.

“(b) Prohibition.—The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by—

“(1) an entity identified on the list published by the Commission under section 2(a); or

“(2) an affiliate of an entity described in paragraph (1).

“(c) Further consideration for secured networks.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may issue a report assessing supply chain security risks associated with any earth station licensee, geostationary orbit satellite system licensee, nongeostationary orbit satellite system licensee, or entity granted a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using a geostationary orbit satellite system or nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an affiliate of such a licensee or entity, that provides communications equipment designed, developed, manufactured, or assembled by an entity identified on the list published by the Commission under section 2(a).

“(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to expand or contract the authority of the Commission.”.

(b) Applicability.—Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) Rules.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).

Amend the title so as to read: “A bill to amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity identified on the Covered List or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.”.

Calendar No. 557
119th CONGRESS
     2d Session
S. 1962
[Report No. 119–138]
A BILL
To amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.
September 14, 2026
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the title