[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3928-H3929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       LAUNCH COMMUNICATIONS ACT

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 682) to facilitate access to electromagnetic spectrum for 
commercial space launches and commercial space reentries, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 682

       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 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 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, coordination 
     procedures to preserve the Nation's defense capabilities, and 
     the allocation on a secondary basis of the frequencies 
     described in subsection (c).
       (2) Coordination with national telecommunications and 
     information administration.--The coordination procedures 
     adopted under paragraph (1) 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.
       (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 one or more 
     Federal space launch sites and multiple commercial space 
     reentries to one or more Federal space launch sites;
       (2) authorizations that include access to such frequencies 
     for multiple commercial space launches from one or more 
     private space launch sites and multiple commercial space 
     reentries to one or more private space launch sites;
       (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 heads of 
     such other Federal agencies 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, between 2360 and 
     2395 megahertz, and between 5650 and 5925 megahertz.
       (d) Rules of Construction.--
       (1) Frequency ranges.--Each range of frequencies described 
     in this section shall be construed to be inclusive of the 
     upper and lower frequencies in the range.
       (2) Special temporary authority.--Nothing in this section 
     may be construed to authorize or require elimination or 
     limitation of, or any amendment to, or otherwise to affect, 
     special temporary authority, as provided for by section 1.931 
     of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
     regulation).
       (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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Latta) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 682, the Launch Communications 
Act led by the gentlemen from Florida's Second and Ninth Districts.
  Over the last decade, the American commercial space industry has 
dramatically reduced the cost to enter space, revolutionizing the 
industry. Investment has increased, and innovation has flourished. The 
number of commercial space launches has increased dramatically.
  Unfortunately, our Federal processes have not kept pace.
  To launch satellites into orbit, launch providers need access to 
certain radio frequencies, known as spectrum, which requires 
coordination between several Federal agencies.
  H.R. 682 will take important steps to streamline the process for 
commercial space launch providers to gain access to the frequencies 
they need when they need them and ensure that a lack of coordination 
between Federal agencies does not hamper the thriving commercial space 
economy.
  No space launch should be threatened because approval for their 
spectrum access is caught up in bureaucratic delay.
  This legislation would provide more certainty to commercial satellite 
operators that when they make the investment in satellite technologies, 
they will be able to launch them into space.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 682, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  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

[[Page H3929]]

manner, I look forward to its consideration in the Senate, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the 
Second District of Florida (Mr. Dunn), who is the sponsor of the 
legislation.
  Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the United States 
continues to lead in satellite communications technology and space 
exploration to ensure our global competitiveness.
  In today's world, indispensable spectrum resources know no borders or 
boundaries, and they must be used to enhance space and satellite 
operations, provide broadband access to our fellow Americans, and 
enhance America's security capability.
  As our private-sector partners continue to innovate, the Federal 
Government can play a collaborative role through the modernization of 
the launch spectrum licensing process.
  This is why I joined my esteemed colleague from Florida (Mr. Soto) in 
reintroducing the Launch Communications Act. This updates and 
simplifies an outdated regulatory process so the U.S. can maintain our 
competitiveness in space exploration.
  Currently, commercial missions launching from the United States to 
space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the 
rockets during launch and reentry.
  Additionally, these private companies must apply to the FCC who must 
then coordinate with the NTIA to receive special temporary authority to 
use such spectrum each time they launch.
  The Launch Communications Act will lift the burden of obtaining many 
authorizations and enable the private companies to temporarily use 
certain spectrum bands for satellite launches when needed.
  On multiple occasions this legislation requires the FCC to streamline 
the launch authorization process for commercial launches, eliminating 
the special temporary authority process, permitting multilaunch 
authorizations, and automating the frequency review process.
  This is consistent with Space Policy Directive-2 issued by President 
Trump in May of 2018 to refine Federal spectrum regulations and 
minimize regulatory burdens.

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Soto), the Democratic sponsor of this bill and a graduate 
of Rutgers University.
  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 682, the 
Launch Communications Act.
  In central Florida, the busiest spaceport in the world is right in 
our backyard in Cape Canaveral. We had a record year of 57 launches 
from the cape in 2022, and we are expecting a total of 87 launches or 
more this year, so quite often we see 2 or more in a single week.
  When we see bad weather, as you can imagine, some of these launches 
start to stack up, which is why having a lengthy FCC license process 
for each launch can be cumbersome and costly.
  That is why I introduced this bill with my colleague and fellow 
Floridian, Dr. Dunn, to streamline the process and ensure our 
spaceports continue to be the most efficient in the world.
  The Launch Communications Act allocates certain spectrum for 
commercial launches and reentries. It streamlines the process for 
authorization to said spectrum while also keeping it available to other 
users and ensuring coordination to prevent any interference with 
government systems.
  As we continue to break launch records year after year, we need to 
streamline these processes to continue to ensure that America remains 
the world leader in space. This bill does exactly that.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce 
Committee, Chair Latta, Chair McMorris Rodgers, Ranking Member Pallone, 
Ranking Member Matsui, and, of course, my fellow Floridian, Dr. Dunn, 
for passing this bill out of committee unanimously.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Launch 
Communications Act.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  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.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would provide more certainty 
to our commercial satellite operators so that when they make the 
investment in satellite technologies, they will be able to launch them 
into space.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 682, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fulcher). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 682, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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