No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3639 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3639
To expedite processing of satellite and space licenses, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 14, 2026
Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expedite processing of satellite and space licenses, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Satellite and Telecommunications
Streamlining Act'' or the ``SAT Streamlining Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States space industry represents a vital
component to the present and future economy, spurring job
creation, innovation, and United States leadership for years to
come;
(2) the Federal Communications Commission should take
action within its remit to be forward-looking and ensure the
United States sustains global leadership in commercial space,
including advancing and implementing cutting-edge policy
positions so that the United States is the global standard
setter;
(3) coordination among relevant Federal agencies is
important to monitoring and minimizing harm to the space
environment so that these finite resources may be well-utilized
to the benefit of future generations of Americans; and
(4) engagement at the World Radiocommunication Conferences
of the International Telecommunication Union is important to
United States space leadership.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY REGARDING CERTAIN LICENSES.
(a) Amendment.--Part I of title III of the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 346. RADIOFREQUENCY LICENSING AUTHORITY RELATING TO CERTAIN
OPERATIONS.
``(a) Definitions.--
``(1) In general.--In this section:
``(A) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant
Secretary' means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Communications and Information.
``(B) Major amendment.--The term `major amendment'
has the meaning given that term in section 25.116(b) of
title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation.
``(C) National defense or security of the united
states.--The term `national defense or security of the
United States'--
``(i) means the protection of the United
States from foreign aggression; and
``(ii) does not otherwise include the
protection of the general welfare of the United
States.
``(D) Relevant committees.--The term `relevant
committees' means the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
``(2) Code of federal regulations.--The terms in section
25.103 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation, are incorporated by reference into this
Act.
``(b) Rules.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, the Commission shall issue rules to carry out this
section that shall apply to applications and petitions submitted under
subsection (c) after the date of enactment of this section.
``(c) Applications and Petitions.--
``(1) Applications for licenses and major amendments.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of receipt of a completed
application for a license or a major amendment of a license,
the Commission shall grant, on condition of successful
coordination with other Federal users as applicable, or deny
the application for--
``(A) a non-geostationary orbit space station
license;
``(B) a geostationary orbit space station license;
``(C) an earth station; or
``(D) a blanket-licensed earth station.
``(2) Petition for a grant of market access.--
``(A) In general.--After the Commission issues a
public notice of the acceptance for filing of a
petition for a grant of market access, the Commission
shall grant or deny the petition for--
``(i) a non-geostationary orbit space
station market access; or
``(ii) a geostationary orbit space station
market access.
``(B) Grant of market access and term.--No grant of
market access shall be granted for more than 15 years.
Grants of market access in effect on the date of
enactment of this section shall expire not later than
15 years from the date of enactment of this section.
``(C) Market access renewals.--The Commission may
create a market access renewal mechanism for grantees
that remain in compliance and have no change in their
risk profile.
``(3) Review extension.--
``(A) In general.--The Commission may extend the
period of review of an application for a license or
renewal only if--
``(i) the Commission finds that there are
extraordinary circumstances involving a danger
to life or property or an action that is
necessary for the national defense or security
of the United States requiring additional time
for consideration of the application;
``(ii) the Commission finds that extra
time, not to exceed 90 days, is needed to
complete a non-geostationary space station
application processing round under the terms in
section 25.157 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation;
``(iii) the Commission publishes and
submits to the relevant committees a notice
that--
``(I) states the reasons of the
Commission for an extension; and
``(II) the length of the period of
the extension; or
``(iv) a lapse in appropriations occurs
with respect to the Commission granting such
applications.
``(B) Limitations on period of extension.--The
Commission may not grant--
``(i) an extension of a deadline for a
period that is more than 90 days; or
``(ii) more than 2 extensions of a
deadline.
``(C) Deemed granted.--If the Commission fails to
grant or deny an application for a license or major
amendment of a license by the end of the applicable
review period, the application shall be deemed granted
on the date on which the Commission receives from the
applicant written notice of the Commission's failure to
grant or deny the application by the applicable
deadline.
``(4) Requests for renewal of license or grant of market
access.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
(3), not later than 180 days after the date on which
the Commission receives a complete request for renewal
of a license or grant of market access, the Commission
shall--
``(i) if the Commission determines the
requirements under section 309(k) have been
met, grant the request for a term not to exceed
the length of--
``(I) the initial term; or
``(II) in the case of a renewal of
a grant of market access, 15 years;
``(ii) if the Commission makes the
determination described in section 309(k)(3),
deny the request; or
``(iii) if the Commission determines an
extension necessary to ensure the national
defense or security of the United States,
submit to the relevant committees a report
explaining the determination and extend the
deadline of review for not longer than one
additional 180-day term.
``(B) Deemed granted.--If the Commission fails to
grant or deny a request for renewal of a license or
grant of market access by the date described in
subparagraph (A), the renewal shall be deemed granted
on the date on which the Commission receives from the
requestor a written notice of the Commission's failure
to grant or deny the renewal by the applicable
deadline.
``(5) Expedited treatment for minor modifications.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B) or to ensure the national defense or
security of the United States, not later than 90 days
after the date on which the Commission receives a
completed request to modify a license, the Commission
shall grant the request if the request is limited only
to modifications, or a class of modifications, that--
``(i) increase transmission capacity or
improve spectral efficiency, such as by
improving compression technologies; and
``(ii) otherwise do not substantially
modify the space or earth station authorized by
the license.
``(B) Exclusion.--This paragraph does not apply to
a request to modify a license for--
``(i) the addition of an ancillary
terrestrial component; or
``(ii) modifying the service offered under
the initial license granted pursuant to
paragraph (1) between fixed satellite service
and mobile satellite service.
``(C) Exception.--The Commission may extend the
period of review of a request under subparagraph (A)
for national security and law enforcement concerns
pursuant to paragraph (9).
``(6) Expedited treatment for certain modifications.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the
Commission receives a request to modify a license or
grant of market access in order to conduct a
replacement described in subparagraph (B), the
Commission shall grant or deny the request.
``(B) Replacement described.--A replacement
described in this subparagraph is a replacement of--
``(i) 1 space station, or component of a
space station, with a technically similar space
station, or component of a space station,
previously approved by the Commission; or
``(ii) 1 earth station, or component of an
earth station, with a technically similar earth
station, or component of an earth station,
previously approved by the Commission.
``(C) Exception.--The Commission may extend the
period of review of a request under subparagraph (A)
for national security and law enforcement concerns
pursuant to paragraph (9).
``(7) Alleviation of delays for certain applications.--
``(A) Addition of certain authorized space
stations.--The Commission shall permit non-
geostationary orbit operators to add an authorized
space station as a point of communication to an
authorized ground station on a notification-only basis
without filing an application for modification of a
license or grant of market access if the addition of
the authorized space station involves no other changes
to the authorized parameters of the ground station.
``(B) Extension of special temporary authority.--
The Commission may extend a grant of special temporary
authority under section 25.120(b)(3) of title 47, Code
of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation,
the request for which was filed alongside an
application for regular nonbroadcast operation, on the
Commission's own motion.
``(C) Priority applications.--The Commission shall
consider whether to implement a process that
prioritizes applications relating to systems most
likely to imminently impact customers, such as systems
relating to currently functioning or soon to be
functioning systems.
``(8) Emergency grant, renewal, or modification.--If the
Commission finds that there are extraordinary circumstances
involving a danger to life or property or an action that is
necessary for the national defense or security of the United
States, the Commission--
``(A) may grant, for a period not to exceed 180
days in a manner and upon the terms the Commission
shall by rule prescribe--
``(i) a license or grant of market access;
``(ii) a renewal of a license or grant of
market access; or
``(iii) a modification of a license or
grant of market access;
``(B) shall include with a grant made under
subparagraph (A) a statement of the reasons of the
Commission for making the grant;
``(C) may extend a grant made under subparagraph
(A) for a period not to exceed 180 days; and
``(D) shall give expeditious treatment to any--
``(i) timely filed petition to deny a grant
made under this subsection; or
``(ii) timely filed petition for rehearing
of a grant made under this subsection that is
filed under section 405.
``(9) Review for national security and law enforcement
concerns.--
``(A) Review required for entities with reportable
foreign ownership.--For each application for a license,
petition for a grant of market access, or request for a
modification submitted by an entity that has not
already undergone a foreign ownership review as
described in this subparagraph or has changed its
foreign ownership structure and that the Commission
determines to have reportable foreign ownership, the
Commission shall refer the application or request to
the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign
Participation in the United States Telecommunications
Services Sector established by Executive Order 13913
(85 Fed. Reg. 19643; relating to the establishment of
the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign
Participation in the United States Telecommunications
Services Sector) (in this paragraph referred to as the
`Committee') for review of national security and law
enforcement concerns that may be raised by the
application, petition, or request.
``(B) Review at discretion of commission.--In
addition to any application, petition, or request that
the Commission is required under subparagraph (A) to
refer to the Committee, the Commission may, at the
Commission's own discretion, refer any other
application for a license, petition for a grant of
market access, or request for a modification submitted
by an entity for review of national security and law
enforcement concerns that may be raised by the
application, petition, or request.
``(10) Completeness.--
``(A) In general.--With respect to each application
for a license, petition for a grant of market access,
or application for an earth station, not later than 30
days after receiving such application or petition, the
Commission shall--
``(i) determine whether--
``(I) the application or petition
contains--
``(aa) in the case of an
application for a license, all
of the information required to
be submitted with the
application;
``(bb) in the case of a
petition for a grant of market
access, all of the information
required to be submitted with
the petition; or
``(cc) in the case of an
application for an earth
station, all of the information
required to be submitted with
the application; and
``(II) the applicant or petitioner
has paid the fee, if any, required; and
``(ii)(I) if the determinations under
subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) are both
in the affirmative, issue a public notice of
the acceptance for filing of the application as
necessary; or
``(II) if either determination under
subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) is in the
negative, provide notice to the applicant of
the negative determination, including the
information required to be submitted for the
application to be determined complete.
``(B) Inaction by commission.--
``(i) In general.--If, with respect to
application for a license, a petition for a
grant of market access, or application for an
earth station, the Commission fails to make the
determinations described in subparagraph (A)
within 30 days, the Commission shall be deemed
for purposes of such application or petition to
have issued a public notice of the acceptance
for filing of the application on the date on
which the Commission receives from the
applicant written notice of the Commission's
failure to make the determinations described in
subparagraph (A).
``(ii) Publication.--The applicant shall
provide the written notice described in clause
(i) publicly in the appropriate Commission
database.
``(11) Coordination.--The Commission and Assistant
Secretary shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, or
execute comparable formal arrangements, to enhance and
standardize interagency coordination to the extent practicable,
with the aim of expediting the review of applications and
petitions submitted under this subsection.
``(d) State Preemption of Market Entry; Rates.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, a State or local government may not regulate
the rates charged by--
``(1) an applicant or licensee with respect to a license
granted; or
``(2) an applicant or grantee with respect to a grant of
market access.
``(e) Spectrum Efficiency.--The Commission shall promulgate rules
that seek to promote competition, innovation, and efficient use of
spectrum by entities licensed or granted market access, including by
accounting for advancements in technology capable of managing
interference concerns to the greatest extent practicable.
``(f) Regulatory Restraint.--
``(1) Limitation on information required to be provided.--
In performing any act, issuing any rule or regulation, or
issuing any order necessary to carry out this section, the
Commission--
``(A) shall limit the information required to be
furnished to the Commission to that which is strictly
necessary;
``(B) with respect to an application for a license,
petition for a grant of market access, or application
for an earth station--
``(i) may not require the filing of any
information that is not directly material to
the considerations that affect the decision on
such application or petition; and
``(ii) may require information about new or
additional facts that the Commission determines
necessary to make its decision; and
``(C) shall proactively reorient the application
and petitions systems of the Commission to reduce the
amount of information required of applicants and
petitioners that the Commission has already collected.
``(g) Report on Backlog.--The Commission shall submit to the
relevant committees and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives an
annual report on the backlog of applications and petitions described
under subsection (c), including the number of applications that are
outstanding for applicant companies that no longer exist, until the
later of 2 years after the date of enactment of this section or such
time as the backlog is reduced to processing times not exceeding 1
year.
``(h) Relation to Experimental and Amateur Uses.--This section
shall not apply to any Commission authorization with respect to--
``(1) the experimental radio service; or
``(2) the amateur radio service.''.
(b) Relation to Other Law Amendments.--Section 309 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (D); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the
following:
``(C) for licenses or grants of market access
granted under section 346; or''; and
(2) in subsection (k)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``broadcast station
renewal procedures'' and inserting ``Renewal Procedures
for Certain Authorizations'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(I) by inserting ``, the holder of
a license or the recipient of a grant
of market access granted under section
346(c),'' after ``broadcast station'';
(II) by inserting ``or grant''
after ``such license'';
(III) by striking ``that station''
and inserting ``that licensee,
recipient, or entity''; and
(IV) by inserting ``or grant of
market access'' after ``its license'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the
station'' and inserting ``in the case of a
broadcast station, the station'';
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``,
recipient, or entity'' after ``licensee''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``,
recipient, or entity'' after ``licensee'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or the
holder of a license or the recipient of a grant of
market access granted under section 346(c),'' after
``broadcast station'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``of a broadcast station, a
holder of a license, or a recipient of a grant
of market access granted under section 346(c)''
after ``that a licensee'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by inserting ``, recipient, or
entity'' after ``licensee''; and
(II) by inserting ``or 346'' after
``section 308''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``former licensee'' and inserting ``former
licensee of a broadcast station or such
applications for a license or grant of market
access filed under section 346(c) specifying
the information of the former licensee,
recipient, or entity''; and
(E) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``or a grant of
market access'' after ``license''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
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