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

For Immediate Release

SIMINGTON ADDRESSES TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2022 – Today, Commissioner Nathan Simington of the Federal Communications Commission delivered a keynote address on the topic of orbital debris and American leadership in the space economy to the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Commissioner Simington’s remarks focused on support for bipartisan legislation to enable the FCC more efficiently to process NGSO space station licensing, and to clarify the FCC’s already-existing authority to promulgate orbital debris regulation.  Said Commissioner Simington,

“Orbital debris is not yet a crisis.  But, if we fail to act, we can certainly make it one.  An opportunity is available for bold American leadership that protects space as an operating environment not just now, but for the Artemis moon colony in 2024 and a Mars colony in 2054.  In clarifying the FCC’s authority to act and giving clear guidance in the formation of its orbital debris rules, bipartisan draft legislation including The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act seizes that opportunity.”

The text of Commissioner Simington’s full speech may be found at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/commissioner-simington-addresses-texas-public-policy-foundation 

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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).