FCC Adopts Groundbreaking Overhaul of Space Bureau’s Licensing Process
A New ‘Licensing Assembly Line’ Will Support the Dynamic Space Economy
   
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2026—In a landmark decision marking the latest Trump Administration win for American space superiority, the Federal Communications Commission voted to overhaul and modernize the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process.  These signature reforms put into action the Commission’s long-term vision for accelerating the Space Bureau’s work.

In roughly 18 months, the Commission began and finished a systematic regulatory overhaul of industry-wide regulations.  Instead of adjusting its regulations around the edges, the Commission proposed to discard the legacy Part 25 rules in their entirety and instead rebuild its rules from first principles through a new Part 100.  The speed and ambition at which the Commission executed these reforms is historically unprecedented within the federal government and something many have considered unimaginable.  The new rules promise to massively accelerate space and earth station licensing, create a faster, more predictable “licensing assembly line,” enhance space safety, and remove outdated regulations to support America’s vibrant commercial space economy.  

Additional Background Information

The United States is already the world leader in commercial space, and the industry is rapidly moving to build the space infrastructure of the future.  The Commission’s action today ensures that the United States remains the best place for the space industry to build, operate, and license innovative space-based systems.  Today’s Report and Order overhauls and modernizes the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process in a number of areas:

· Adopts a new rule section (part 100) that would revise many legacy rules (part 25) from first principles, including surety bond requirements, license terms, processing rounds, and other application filing frameworks.

· Replaces the FCC’s traditional licensing process with a “licensing assembly line” where applications are modularized and processed more efficiently.

· Increases the speed of application processing, provides more predictability for companies, and gives the FCC new tools to promote today’s space innovators.  

· Establishes bright-line criteria as to when an application serves the public interest, while providing clarity on the exceptional circumstances that warrant more considered review.  

· Promotes space safety by requiring satellite operators to share space situational awareness data.  

· Eliminates a large swath of unnecessary licensing and operating rules, consistent with the agency’s Delete, Delete, Delete proceeding.

· Seeks comment (in a Further Notice) on the establishment of a space-based experimental licensing regime and further reforms to space and earth station application processing and licensing.

Action by the Commission July 22, 2026 by Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-47).  Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving.  Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.

SB Docket No. 25-306

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