---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 60148"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "60148"
heading: "Enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/60148"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Earth Observations"
  - "Chapter 601 — Land Remote Sensing Policy"
  - "Subchapter V — General Provisions"
---

# §60148. Enforcement

- (a) **In General.—** In order to ensure that [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) from the [Landsat system](/usc/51/60101.md?p=6) received solely for [noncommercial purposes](/usc/51/60101.md?p=10) are not used for any commercial purpose, the [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) (in collaboration with private sector entities responsible for the marketing and distribution of [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) generated by the [Landsat system](/usc/51/60101.md?p=6)) shall develop and implement a system for enforcing this prohibition, in the event that [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) from the [Landsat system](/usc/51/60101.md?p=6) are made available for [noncommercial purposes](/usc/51/60101.md?p=10) at a different price than such data are made available for other purposes.
- (b) **Authority of Secretary.—** Subject to [subsection (d)](#d), the [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) may impose any of the enforcement mechanisms described in [subsection (c)](#c) against a person that—
  - (1) receives [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) from the [Landsat system](/usc/51/60101.md?p=6) under this chapter solely for [noncommercial purposes](/usc/51/60101.md?p=10) (and at a different price than the price at which such data are made available for other purposes); and
  - (2) uses such data for other than [noncommercial purposes](/usc/51/60101.md?p=10).
- (c) **Enforcement Mechanisms.—** Enforcement mechanisms referred to in [subsection (b)](#b) may include civil penalties of not more than $10,000 (per day per violation), denial of further [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) purchasing privileges, and any other penalties or restrictions the [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) considers necessary to ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) provided for [noncommercial purposes](/usc/51/60101.md?p=10) are not used to unfairly compete in the commercial market against private sector entities not eligible for data at the [cost of fulfilling user requests](/usc/51/60101.md?p=1).
- (d) **Procedures and Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section and shall establish standards and procedures governing the imposition of enforcement mechanisms under [subsection (b)](#b). The standards and procedures shall include a procedure for potentially aggrieved parties to file formal protests with the [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) alleging instances where such [unenhanced data](/usc/51/60101.md?p=12) have been, or are being, used for commercial purposes in violation of the terms of receipt of such data. The [Secretary](/usc/51/60101.md?p=11) shall promptly act to investigate any such protest, and shall report annually to Congress on instances of such violations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3421.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 60148 | 15 U.S.C. 5658. | Pub. L. 102–555, title V, § 508, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4179. |

In subsection (d), in the second sentence, the words “have been, or are being” are substituted for “has been, or is being” to correct an error in the law.