Friday, May 4, 2018

FCC Looking to Streamine Licensing for "Small Satellites"

The FCC wants to remove some of the red tape involved in getting a license to launch and operate a "small satellite" that meets certain criteria, including limited orbital lifetime, low risk of leaving behind orbital debris and the ability to share spectrum with other users. The AMSAT News Service reports that the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) applies at this time only to satellites licensed under Part 25 of its rules, which covers commercial and scientific satellites. It is uncertain at this time how – or whether – any potential rule changes might affect amateur satellites, which operate as part of the Amateur Satellite Service under Part 97. AMSAT and other concerned groups will be monitoring progress on the NPRM.