Secure Space Act of 2025
The Secure Space Act of 2025 would add a security-focused restriction to the FCC’s satellite licensing authority. It prohibits the FCC from granting licenses or market access for geostationary (GEO) or nongeostationary (NGSO) satellite systems, and from authorizing the use of individually licensed or blanket-licensed earth stations, if the license or access would be held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides “covered communications equipment or service” or by an affiliate of such an entity. In short, the bill ties satellite approvals to the ownership/control of the applicant by providers of certain communications equipment or services, aimed at limiting foreign- or security-concerning influence over space assets. The act also requires the FCC to issue implementing rules within one year and expands the 2019 Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act by creating a new section (Section 10) that contains these prohibitions and definitions.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition scope: The FCC may not grant licenses for GEO/NGSO satellite systems or authorize the use of certain earth stations if the applicant would be owned or controlled (directly or indirectly) by an entity that produces/provides covered communications equipment or service, or by an affiliate of such an entity.
- 2Definitions created:
- 3- Affiliate: an entity that directly or indirectly owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with another entity (ownership threshold set at 10% or more).
- 4- Blanket-licensed earth station: an earth station licensed for use with a GEO or NGSO system.
- 5- Gateway station: an earth station (or group of stations) that supports routing/switching for satellite systems and may handle telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions; not traffic-originating/terminating and not exclusive to a single customer.
- 6- Individually licensed earth station: an earth station (not blanket-licensed) that communicates with a GEO/NGSO system, or a gateway station.
- 7Applicability timing: The prohibitions apply to licenses, petitions, or authorizations granted on or after the act’s enactment date.
- 8Rulemaking requirement: The FCC must issue rules to implement the new section within one year of enactment.
- 9Legislative mechanics: The bill redesignates and reorganizes certain sections of the 2019 act (inserting a new Section 10 and renumbering subsequent sections).