Federal Communications Commission FCC 18-44
1
STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re: Streamlining Licensing Procedures for Small Satellites, IB Docket No. 18-86.
Great things come in small packages!  The first time those of us of a certain height attached real 
meaning to this phrase, came on the heels of being consoled after being made to feel exceptionally small 
and inadequate, from the words or hands of a playground bully.
Today, however, this oft-recited phrase can be used to describe several trends taking place in the 
technology and communications industries.  The first commercial cellphone was literally the size of a 
brick.  Today’s smart phones fit in our back pockets.  In the 1960s and 70s, you needed a room the size of 
a huge office to house that generation’s super computer.  Now, those smart phones in our purses contain 
more computing power than all at NASA back in 1969.
A few years back, researchers at the University of Illinois developed batteries only a few 
millimeters in size and they can be used to jump-start a car, and so long as consumers continue to demand 
portability when it comes to their electronic devices, and as long as there are engineers working on 
satisfying that demand, we should expect the trend towards smaller device sizes to continue.
This shrinking trend when it comes to our technology devices, is now impacting the satellite 
industry.  “Small satellites” are being deployed into orbit efficiently and cost-effectively for a variety of 
uses.  We are seeing rising numbers of holders of experimental and amateur licenses for small satellite 
systems, seek authorization of those systems for commercial use.  The Earth imagery and other 
information from these systems are being used by the tech industry to develop big data technologies for a 
variety of applications.  One such application is in the field of agriculture, where satellite and other data is 
being used to improve crop yields.  Small satellite systems are also being used for space in cloud data and 
analytics providing advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking.
Today, the Commission rightly acknowledges this trend in the commercial industry and proposes 
new licensing procedures that should facilitate greater investment and innovation.  Providing for one 
streamlined set of procedures, and seeking comment on how we can tailor our Part 25 license and service 
rules for small satellite systems, means that we are off to a great start.  I am in full support of today’s item 
and thank Tom Sullivan and the International Bureau for an impressive Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.