Federal Communications Commission
In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or we) proposes to overhaul and modernize the Commission's space and earth station licensing process to help "ensure that new space-based industries, space exploration capabilities, and cutting-edge defense systems are pioneered in America rather than by our adversaries." In particular, the NPRM proposes to develop a "licensing assembly line" designed so applications can be routed along different paths and segmented for review based on specific aspects of a request. This new process would set the stage for ongoing efficiency gains and would provide greater predictability and flexibility for applicants. In this way, we expect--like actual assembly lines--that the space review processes can be dramatically accelerated while improving the quality of the Commission's space licensing work.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Federal Communications Commission 47 CFR Part 25 [SB Docket No. 25-306; FCC 25-69; FR ID 319249] ( printed page 56338) AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or we) proposes to overhaul and modernize the Commission's space and earth station licensing process to help “ensure that new space-based industries, space exploration capabilities, and cutting-edge defense systems are pioneered in America rather than by our adversaries.” In particular, the NPRM proposes to develop a “licensing assembly line” designed so applications can be routed along different paths and segmented for review based on specific aspects of a request. This new process would set the stage for ongoing efficiency gains and would provide greater predictability and flexibility for applicants. In this way, we expect—like actual assembly lines—that the space review processes can be dramatically accelerated while improving the quality of the Commission's space licensing work. DATES: Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) are due January 20, 2026. Reply Comments are due February 18, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by SB Docket No. 25-306, by any of the following methods: ☐ FCC Website: https://apps.fcc.gov/​ecfs . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. ☐ People with Disabilities: Contact t…
Citation: 90 FR 56338
