Federal Communications CommissionDA 26-887 DA 26-887 Released: August 25, 2026 WTB, OET, AND SB SEEK COMMENT ON ENSURING RELIABLE ACCESS TO SPECTRUM FOR SPACE LAUNCH ACTIVITIES TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE PRESIDENT’S NATIONAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION POLICY ET Docket No. 13-115 RM-12025 Comment Date: September 14, 2026 Reply Comment Date: September 24, 2026 President Trump is securing American space leadership by promoting robust, safe, and innovative space transportation capabilities. To advance this Administration priority, President Trump has issued a memorandum directing relevant federal agencies to “consider and evaluate opportunities to improve launch and reentry infrastructure and access to infrastructure,” and to take other appropriate actions to further strengthen U.S. space transportation capabilities. The National Space Transportation Policy, Presidential Memorandum, 91 Fed. Reg. 54929 (Aug. 20, 2026), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/national-security-presidential-memorandum-nspm-17/. The National Space Transportation Policy Presidential Memorandum directs the Commission to coordinate with relevant agencies to “ensure reliable access to spectrum for commercial and Federal space launch, reentry, recovery, and on-orbit activities,” and, with the Department of Commerce, to report on the approach to ensuring reliable access to spectrum within 180 days. Id. By this Public Notice, the Commission’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), and Space Bureau (SB) seek comment on a range of actions that the agency can take to achieve spectrum abundance for space launch and reentry operations, aligned with this Administration priority. We note that we consider “recovery and on-orbit activities” to be part of launch and reentry and therefore do not seek separate comment on these activities. The Launch Communications Act (LCA), enacted by Congress in September 2024, tasked the Commission with facilitating and streamlining access to spectrum for commercial space launch and reentry operations. See generally Launch Communications Act, Pub. L. No. 118-85, 138 Stat. 1546 (2024). The LCA specified adding a secondary allocation for such activities in the 2025–2110 MHz, 2200–2290 MHz, and 2360–2395 MHz bands. Id. Consistent with the LCA, the Commission has made available, on a secondary basis, these three bands for commercial space launch and reentry activities. See Allocation of Spectrum for Non-Federal Space Launch Operations; Amendment of Part 2 of The Commission’s Rules for Federal Earth Stations Communicating with Non-Federal Fixed Satellite Service Space Stations; Federal Space Station Use of the 399.9 400.05 MHz Band, ET Docket No. 13-115, Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 38 FCC Rcd 9029 (2023); Allocation of Spectrum for Non-Federal Space Launch Operations, ET Docket No. 13-115, Third Report and Order, 39 FCC Rcd 14065 (2024). We note that there are a few select channels in the 2360–2395 MHz band for primary use of space launch and reentry activities. These bands include several co-primary services, including both federal and non-federal operations. To mitigate harmful interference with incumbent operations for which the bands are allocated on a primary basis, use of the bands for space launches and reentries requires federal coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and non-federal coordination with the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC), among other entities. We seek comment on actions the Commission can take to increase and improve reliable spectrum access for space launch and reentry activities, consistent with the goals of the National Space Transportation Policy. Launch operators use spectrum for pre-launch testing on the ground and for telemetry, tracking, and command for vehicle launch and reentry. Given the nature of space launch operations, spectrum access is required over large geographic areas and at particular times, which are frequently rescheduled depending on launch conditions. The bands allocated for non-federal space launch and reentry operations provide a total of 215 MHz of spectrum, but these allocations are on a secondary basis in bands heavily used by incumbent services. Coordination is required prior to each launch or reentry. We seek comment on the considerations required to inform policy and rulemaking to ensure reliable access to spectrum for space launch and reentry activities. In particular, we seek public comment on the frequency and cadence of launches, and how this cadence may increase in the future. We also seek comment on the locations of launches and reentries, including the total geographic areas for which spectrum access is needed for each launch site as well as whether additional locations are expected in the future to keep pace with any future increases in launch cadence. Furthermore, we seek comment on specific spectrum needs, including the amount of spectrum needed to support space launch and reentry activities. What are the current spectrum requirements of space launch operations? What applications can be provided under the current spectrum available for these activities and which applications need more capacity? What new applications are expected that will rely on spectrum resources? How will these needs change in the future, and how can we ensure that there is sufficient spectrum available? In this light, we seek input regarding whether more bands should be available for space launch and reentry operations. If more spectrum is needed, what specific additional bands should include an allocation for space launch operations? What type of spectrum rights are needed to support space launch operations in the bands? We seek comment on the appropriate priority for space launch operations. Should any new allocations be secondary, co-primary, or primary? In such cases, how should we treat space launch activities with respect to incumbent users in various bands regarding spectrum priority, regardless of when a specific license is issued? We also seek comment on approaches to improving the existing coordination processes to ensure that spectrum is used efficiently to meet the needs of space launch operators. For example, under any shared access mechanism where coordination with other licensees or the federal government is required, what factors should the Commission consider to accommodate today’s and the future’s launch cadences? How far in advance should coordination take place, and what types of flexibility do launch operators require in case launches must be rescheduled due to weather and other factors? We welcome comments on the needs of space launch operators and on considerations relevant to ensuring reliable spectrum access in the near-, medium-, and long-term. In particular, we seek public input on actions the Commission can take to support spectrum needs within the next two years, within two to five years, and in more than five years. For example, what short-term actions can the Commission take to improve the efficiency of existing coordination mechanisms within the next two years? Are there medium-term actions the Commission can take to enable more reliable access to spectrum for space launch and reentry operations within five years? Finally, in the long-term, what considerations are relevant to achieving spectrum abundance for space launch activities and ensuring that there is reliable access to spectrum? For example, we seek comment on approaches to increasing the total spectrum available for space launch and reentry activities, and whether such operations should be provided higher priority spectrum rights than the current allocations for space launches and reentries. In addition, we seek public input on additional actions the Commission should consider, beyond spectrum allocations for launch and reentry, that would further the goals outlined in the National Space Transportation Policy. In particular, we welcome comments on steps the Commission could take to support safe, efficient, and scalable launch operations. This includes potential policy clarifications or updates related to the use of spectrum in support of uncrewed surface vessels (USV) or uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in maritime or aerospace environments that interface with launch activities, as well as other communications, safety, or operational capabilities needed to meet national objectives for increased launch cadence, enhanced commercial access, public safety, and resilient national infrastructure. Currently, approximately 200 launch activities occur annually in the United States. With the rapid growth expected under the National Space Transportation Policy’s direction, this expansion in launch activity will likely generate significant downstream effects. Beyond spectrum availability, what additional ripple effects of this policy should the Commission consider? Will USV or UAS activity likewise experience an increase in cadence to support these launches and require additional spectrum resources? Further, as launch operations accelerate, will entities operating USV and UAS in support of these activities need to modify existing methods, procedures, or modes of operation to ensure continued safety, reliability, and efficiency and what effect would that have on spectrum needs and/or radio carriage requirements of vessels? By this Public Notice, OET, SB, and WTB also seek comment on the petition filed by the Commercial Space Federation (CSF) on August 4, 2026, requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking to update the spectrum sharing processes including for non-federal aeronautical mobile telemetry operations and adopt new coordination and sharing mechanisms in the 1435–1535 MHz, 2360–2395 MHz, and 5091–5150 MHz bands. Commercial Space Federation Petition for Rulemaking (filed August 4, 2026), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/26110069483/1 (CSF Petition). In its petition, CSF advocates for increased efficiency within the existing coordination process. We seek comment on the CSF Petition, including on the implications of what it proposes with respect to ensuring reliable access to spectrum for space launch and reentry activities. To develop a complete record on the issues presented by the CSF Petition, the proceeding will be treated, for ex parte purposes, as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.1200(a). subject to the requirements under section 1.1206(b). 47 CFR § 1.1206(b). We assigned rulemaking number RM-12025 to the petition filed by the Commercial Space Federation. Interested parties may file comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Filing Requirements. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.149, 47 CFR §§ 1.403, 1.405. interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated above and must reference ET Docket No. 13-115 and RM-12025. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998); 63 FR 24121 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. § Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. § Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC’s mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. § Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. § Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. · People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530. Ex Parte Rules. As stated above, the proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. Additional Information. For further information regarding this Public Notice, please contact Andrew Ware, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Andrew.Ware@fcc.gov. – FCC – 2