US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 682 — what changed

Launch Communications Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 1 section amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Access to spectrum for commercial space launches and reentries

(a)
Service rules; allocation—
(1)
changed In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall—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).
(A)
removed 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 Nation’s defense capabilities; and
(B)
removed allocate on a secondary basis such frequencies for commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
(2)
changed Coordination with National Telecommunications and Information Administration— The coordination procedures adopted under paragraph (1)(A) (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.
(3)
removed Limitation— Access to the frequencies described in subsection (c) under the service rules adopted under paragraph (1)(A), and the allocation of such frequencies under paragraph (1)(B), 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)
changed 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 reentry Federal space launch sites;
(2)
added 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)
renumbered was (3)(4) authorizations that include access to multiple uses of such frequencies for commercial space launch or commercial space reentry;
(4)
renumbered was (3)(5) 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)
added 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.
(4)
removed 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, which may include the Secretary of Defense) 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 following:
(1)
changed The frequencies between 2025–2110 MHz, 2200–2290 MHz, 2360–2395 MHz, 2025 and 5650–5925 MHz.2110 megahertz, between 2200 and 2290 megahertz, between 2360 and 2395 megahertz, and between 5650 and 5925 megahertz.
(2)
Any additional frequencies identified by the Commission (in coordination with the Assistant Secretary, in the case of potential impact to Federal spectrum use) as necessary to conduct commercial space launches and commercial space reentries.
(d)
added Rules of construction—
(1)
added 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)
added 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).
(d)
removed 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.