Federal Communications Commission FCC 15-167 STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER Re: Comprehensive Review of Licensing and Operating Rules for Satellite Services, IB Docket No. 12-267 Today, we celebrate the arrival of a much anticipated space-based sequel: the Part 25 Second Report and Order. This item is not just the follow-up to our 2013 rules reforming satellite licensing, it is the latest – and arguably the most epic – episode in the Commission’s ongoing process reform journey. The U.S. satellite industry generates more than $87 billion in annual revenue and delivers a wide variety of consumer services including satellite TV, radio, and broadband. In this order, we adopt significant reforms to our rules governing satellite licensing and operations, known as Part 25, to make the regulatory approval process for satellite licenses easier and more efficient, to provide more operational flexibility, and to dramatically reduce regulatory burdens and costs. We conclude that many of these rule provisions are unnecessary, outdated or redundant. We are eliminating over 50 rule provisions, which will enable parties to save time, effort, and expense in preparing license applications and complying with license terms. For example, eliminating the submission of interim milestone requirements and eliminating the two-degree spacing showings will substantially reduce administrative burdens on satellite licensees and Commission staff. The Order also streamlines, clarifies or updates over 200 other rule provisions and definitions. The end result will be faster processing times for satellite space and earth station applications. That means faster deployment of innovative services to consumers. For instance, streamlining our process to allow for the early submission of coordination information to the International Telecommunication Union will better facilitate international coordination and place U.S. space station licensees on equal footing with other countries that do not require submission of detailed technical system parameters before filing submissions to the ITU. Expanding options for routine earth station licensing will also lead to quicker service to consumers. This proceeding is one of the most comprehensive under my process reform initiative. The rule changes will enable parties to save time, effort, and expense in preparing license applications. Most important, we hope that these and other process reforms will facilitate new innovations and the delivery of better products and services to the American people. Thank you to the Commission staff for their work on this item. We also appreciate the time, attention and useful recommendations submitted in this proceeding by many stakeholders and, in particular, by the Satellite Industry Association.