Media Contact: 
Michael Sweeney
Michael.Sweeney@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

SIMINGTON PRAISES BIPARTISAN SATELLITE LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 11, 2022 — Today, Commissioner Nathan Simington at the Federal Communications Commission released the following statement in support of the bipartisan “Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act of 2022” shared by House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Chairman Frank Pallone:

“For the past several decades, the world launched something on the order of a hundred satellites per year.  Yet, in the past two years, we’ve seen an order of magnitude increase in annual satellites flown—over a thousand in each of the past two years.  And the rate of activity is increasing.

Most of the new activity is in low earth orbit, which holds forth the promise of a step change in rural broadband connectivity, among other innovative services.  There is cause for excitement and hope.

American companies are leading the way in the space economy revolution, but that leadership must not be taken for granted.  We must act quickly to secure America’s role as a jurisdiction of first resort for the most innovative new companies in the emerging launch and satellite sectors.

At the same time, we must reckon, plainly and honestly, with the challenge of orbital debris.  Orbital debris poses a threat to scientific, commercial, and security applications of satellites, and we must work to both prevent the generation of orbital debris, and to mitigate the debris that already exists.

If we are smart, we can accomplish both at the same time.  This bipartisan legislation enables the FCC to do just that.  I applaud the hard work of Congressional leaders involved in the drafting of this bill, and I hope to see it passed with due speed.  Once passed, I look forward to working closely with Chairwoman Rosenworcel and my other Commission colleagues on the implementation of rules to secure a robust, and safe operating environment in space.”

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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).