Federal Communications Commission	FCC 22-66


STATEMENT OF
CHAIRWOMAN JESSICA ROSENWORCEL

Re: 	In the Matter of Space Innovation, IB Docket No. 22-271; Facilitating Capabilities for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing, IB Docket No. 22-272, Notice of Inquiry (August 5, 2022).

A new space age is here.  In our far skies we have new commercial models, new market entrants, and new technologies pioneering a range of new satellite services and space-based activities.  It’s exciting—and at the Federal Communications Commission we’ve taken note.  Because today we are opening a new docket for Space Innovation.
The first step in this effort—or giant leap—is the inquiry we introduce today.  We believe the new space age needs new rules.  Because here on the ground, the regulatory frameworks we rely on to shape space policy were largely built for another era.  They were designed for a time when going to space was astronomically expensive and limited to the prowess of our political superpowers.  No one imagined commercial space tourism taking hold, no one believed crowd-funded satellites and mega constellations at low earth orbit were possible, and no one could have conceived of the sheer popularity of space entrepreneurship.
But it’s all happening.  And if we are going to promote United States leadership in the emerging space economy, we need to make sure our rules are prepared for the proliferation of satellites in orbit and new activities in our higher altitudes.  In short, we have work to do.  
It starts with this inquiry.  We are, for the first time, developing a record to support in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing—or ISAM.  ISAM includes a range of in-space activities, including repairing and refueling satellites and even assembling whole new systems in orbit.  If we can do these things at scale, we can build new industries that advance our scientific frontiers and national security priorities.  They can mean the further development of an economy both in space and for space.  That’s a big deal.  It’s why in April the White House announced a new strategy for stimulating the development of ISAM capabilities here in the United States—and with this new inquiry, we are all in.
Of course, as we promote Space Innovation, we need to promote safety and responsibility.  That is why this inquiry also considers how ISAM capabilities can lead to the development of new ways to clean up orbital debris.  After all, there are thousands of metric tons of junk in space that if left unaddressed will constrain those new opportunities in the skies above and ISAM could help improve this environment.  
Finally, I want to note that while this is the inaugural effort in this new Space Innovation docket, it comes on the heels of our decision earlier this week to free up more spectrum in the 17 GHz band to support the growing demand for space-based services.  That, in turn, was preceded by action to identify spectrum for commercial space launches, efforts to clear the way for more satellite operators in the 50.4-51.4 GHz band, review of our processing round rules for satellite systems to encourage more competition, and new opportunities in the V-band to provide service nationwide.  It’s a lot.  And to keep up with it all, we have increased the size of the agency division responsible for satellite matters—by 38 percent.     
Thank you to the staff who worked on this inaugural effort in our Space Innovation docket—and there’s more to come: Morgan Armstrong, Curtrisha Banks, Cara Cavanaugh, Jameyanne Fuller, Karl Kensinger, Adrienne McNeil, Bridgit Mendler, Thomas Sullivan, Troy Tanner, Merissa Velez, and Patrick Webre from the International Bureau; Michael Ha, Nicholas Oros, Jamison Prime, Ron Repasi, Anthony Serafini, and Thomas Struble from the Office of Engineering and Technology; Linda Chang, Rodney Conway, Robert Krinsky, George Leris, and Peter Trachtenberg from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; Patrick Brogan, Patrick DeGraba, Rachel Kazan, Catherine Matraves, Mark Montano, Michelle Schaefer, Emily Talaga, and Aleks Yankelevich from the Office of Economics and Analytics; and Douglas Klein, David Konczal, and William Richardson from the Office of General Counsel.
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