Federal Communications Commission FCC 18-44
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STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O’RIELLY
Re: Streamlining Licensing Procedures for Small Satellites, IB Docket No. 18-86.
I approve of today’s notice that should promote innovation and entrepreneurship by facilitating 
and streamlining the launch of small satellites, such as CubeSats.  Over the past year, the Commission has 
witnessed impressive advancements in satellite technologies.  From NGSO constellations and next-
generation geos, to impressive space launch capabilities, we are witnessing the proliferation of systems 
providing faster broadband speeds, engaging in earth observation, and pushing the envelope of scientific 
research.  Hopefully, this proceeding will lead to future inventions and services that we cannot envision 
today.
This item’s focus on smaller systems and shorter-term projects should promote such research and 
development, along with the marketing of new services.  As proposed, the streamlined processes would 
be available for applications involving ten or fewer satellites with a life cycle of five years or less.  As we 
go forward, we must be clear about which entities will be able to utilize these streamlined procedures and 
be careful that we do not create unintentional loopholes that could give some entities a competitive 
advantage over others. 
Further, with this proceeding comes added responsibilities.  We must ensure that the increased 
use of small sats does not cause harmful interference to other services.  This an issue we have been faced 
with and have not adequately resolved in the context of NGSOs and in-line interference.  
As I have discussed before, we also need a better plan to address orbital debris and dead satellites 
so that we do not clutter space with such things as used rocket parts.  Therefore, we must make certain 
that these small sats will not cause damage to other satellites and that they de-orbit appropriately at the 
end of life.
Generally, the Commission must consider orbital debris when contemplating satellite rules going 
forward.  Other federal agencies are working on best practices, and industry and governments are working 
on ways to clean up space, including such ideas as launching nets and harpoons to snag pieces of space 
trash as they fly by.
1
  It is estimated that there may be more than 650,000 objects larger than a fingernail 
and 170 million pieces larger than one millimeter.
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  This may not sound like much to some, but these 
objects can travel at speeds of up to 17,500 miles per hour, causing quite a bit of damage.  While the FCC 
should not be regulating space debris, it should engage on this issue and do its part to ensure that its 
licensees are responsible stewards of the orbits surrounding the Earth.  We certainly should ensure that we 
do not add to the problem.  I look forward to discussing this issue with industry and other federal agencies 
in the coming months.
1
 Stephen Clark, Eliminating Space Junk Could Take Step Toward Reality with Station Cargo Launch, SPACEFLIGHT 
NOW, Apr. 1, 2018, https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/04/01/eliminating-space-junk-could-take-step-toward-reality-
with-station-cargo-launch/. 
2
 Dave Mosher and Samantha Lee, More than 14,000 Hunks of Dangerous Space Junk are Hurtling Around Earth – 
Here’s Who Put it All Up There, BUSINESS INSIDER, Mar. 29, 2018, 
http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/space-junk-debris-amount-statistics-countries-2018-3-1019848316  
(adding that the Space Surveillance Network tracks 23,000 objects larger than a softball and that 14,000 of these are 
uncontrolled).