FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Cory Booker 
United States Senate 
359 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510 
Dear Senator Booker: 
November 21 , 201 7 
Thank you for your letter regarding the challenges presented by space debris in low-Earth 
orbit (LEO), particularly with respect to potential debris resulting from new LEO satellite 
constellations. As you indicate, a number of these new constellations hold out the promise of 
connecting rural and underserved populations to the internet. Others are providing, or plan to 
provide, new sources of data about the Earth and its weather. 
Since 2004, the FCC has worked with other federal agencies and in particular the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to mitigate orbital debris. This 
engagement includes supporting other U.S. agencies as they work domestically and 
internationally to improve debris mitigation practices and draws heavily on technical guidance 
and assessment tools developed by NASA. 
As we enter a new era in which hundreds or thousands of new satellites are deployed, 
Commission staff are also in the early stages of undertaking a review of our current rules to 
explore whether rule changes are needed, including changes that may be necessary in light of 
increasing rates of small satellite deployment and proposed large constellation deployments. The 
FCC will also continue to work with our federal partners to improve debris mitigation practices, 
and we will explore establishing an interagency working group on debris mitigation. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
Sincerely, 
a-~ VCOcJ ~IV.Pai 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 
WASHINGTON 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Dan Sullivan 
United States Senate 
702 Hart Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510 
Dear Senator Sullivan: 
November 21 , 2017 
Thank you for your letter regarding the challenges presented by space debris in low-Earth 
orbit (LEO), particularly with respect to potential debris resulting from new LEO satellite 
constellations. As you indicate, a number of these new constellations hold out the promise of 
connecting rural and underserved populations to the internet. Others are providing, or plan to 
provide, new sources of data about the Earth and its weather. 
Since 2004, the FCC has worked with other federal agencies and in particular the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to mitigate orbital debris. This 
engagement includes supporting other U.S. agencies as they work domestically and 
internationally to improve debris mitigation practices and draws heavily on technical guidance 
and assessment tools developed by NASA. 
As we enter a new era in which hundreds or thousands of new satellites are deployed, 
Commission staff are also in the early stages of undertaking a review of our current rules to 
explore whether rule changes are needed, including changes that may be necessary in light of 
increasing rates of small satellite deployment and proposed large constellation deployments. The 
FCC will also continue to work with our federal partners to improve debris mitigation practices, 
and we will explore establishing an interagency working group on debris mitigation. 
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further 
assistance. 
~eN\_~I~~ 
L~~~-1' 
~9'~ ~I MA£l