[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41782-41783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17808]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Request for Information

SUMMARY: In furtherance of its implementation of the new U.S. 
Commercial Remote Sensing Policy authorized by the President on April 
25, 2003, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
seeking public comment with regard to NOAA's licensing of commercial 
remote sensing satellite systems.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: NOAA/NESDIS International and 
Interagency Affairs Office, 1335 East-West Highway SSMC1, Room 7311, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910, attn: Timothy Stryker, Chief, Satellite 
Activities Branch.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The new U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing 
Policy establishes guidance and implementation actions for the policies

[[Page 41783]]

contained therein with respect to commercial remote sensing space 
capabilities. A fact sheet regarding the new policy directive may be 
found on the web site of the White House Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, at http://www.ostp.gov/html/new.html. The 
fundamental goal of the policy is ``to advance and protect U.S. 
national security and foreign policy interests by maintaining the 
nation's leadership in remote sensing space activities, and by 
sustaining and enhancing the U.S. remote sensing industry.''
    As part of the implementation of the new policy, the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking public comment 
on all aspects of its licensing program for commercial remote sensing 
satellite systems. NOAA is seeking comments on topics such as:
    [sbull] the current regulations on commercial remote sensing 
satellite systems;
    [sbull] the current thresholds for commercial operations of U.S. 
systems;
    [sbull] the U.S. Government's manner of conditioning operations of 
U.S. system operators;
    [sbull] issues of foreign availability and competition; and,
    [sbull] possible alternative approaches to address U.S. national 
security, foreign policy, and commercial interests.

For public reference, the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, the 
Licensing of Private Land Remote-Sensing Space Systems (15 CFR part 
960), and other relevant materials may be found in the ``Reference 
Materials'' section on the NOAA Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing Web 
site, at http://www.licensing.noaa.gov. Comments should be received by 
NOAA no later than August 15, 2003, by postal service to the address 
listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Stryker, NOAA/NESDIS 
International and Interagency Affairs, 1335 East West Highway, Room 
7311, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910; telephone (301) 713-2024 x.205, 
fax (301) 713-2032, e-mail [email protected], or Bernard 
Crawford at telephone (301) 713-2024 x204, e-mail 
[email protected].

Gregory W. Withee,
Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. 03-17808 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-HR-P