[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 4615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01653]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE132


NOAA Commercial Space Policy

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the NOAA Commercial Space Policy.

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SUMMARY: NOAA has released the final NOAA Commercial Space Policy 
(Policy). On September 1, 2015, NOAA released a draft Commercial Space 
Policy for a 30-day public comment period. During this comment period, 
15 sets of comments were received (see www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0109). All comments were reviewed, 
adjudicated and, where appropriate, incorporated or reflected in the 
final Policy.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the Policy please go to: http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ames/administrative_orders/chapter_217/217-109.html or www.regulations.gov and search NOAA-NMFS-2015-0109, or 
contact Mr. Troy Wilds, Executive Director, Office of the Under 
Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Suite 51032, 14th and Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington DC 20230. (Phone: 202-482-3193, [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding 
the Policy, please contact Mr. Troy Wilds, Executive Director, Office 
of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, Suite 51032, 14th and Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington DC 20230. (Phone: 202-482-3193, 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NOAA's Commercial Space Policy sets a broad framework for use of 
commercial space-based approaches by the agency to meet its 
observational requirements. Changes in the commercial space services 
arena are happening rapidly, yielding new technical and business 
approaches to building, launching, and operating satellites, and 
selling private satellite capabilities as services. NOAA is interested 
in exploring these emerging commercial capabilities to better 
understand how they might complement the agency's current offerings.
    The draft policy was published on September 1, 2015 (80 FR 52745). 
The final policy establishes critical components for improved 
engagement with the commercial sector: Designating the Office of Space 
Commerce as a single point of entry for commercial providers thereby 
streamlining the process for easier engagement; establishes an open and 
transparent marketplace; defines guiding principles, implementation 
considerations, and strategic planning for potential commercial data 
buys; and establishes the possibility of demonstration projects, where 
appropriate, to test and evaluate new potential data sources, and 
provides an avenue to operational commercial data buys.
    As demand for information about the changing state of our planet 
grows, NOAA strives to support and grow an observing enterprise that is 
flexible, responsive to evolving technologies, and economically 
sustainable. This policy will allow NOAA to seek solutions that meet 
these needs while also supporting and upholding the international data 
sharing commitments upon which we depend for global data and data 
products.

    Dated: January 15, 2016.
Manson K. Brown,
Deputy Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-01653 Filed 1-26-16; 8:45 am]
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