The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is undertaking major reforms to its space regulations, with national security playing a more prominent role alongside commercial innovation, according to a senior official.
Speaking at the SAE Media Group’s Milsatcom USA conference on June 16, Jay Schwarz, chief of the FCC’s space bureau, emphasized that the agency’s modernization of satellite licensing and spectrum allocation reflects not just economic ambitions but also the growing need to support U.S. defense capabilities in space.
“A strong national defense very much motivates the work that we’re doing at the FCC,” Schwarz noted during his remarks.
The FCC’s space bureau is responsible for licensing satellites and ground stations, managing spectrum for geostationary and non-geostationary systems, and overseeing the operations of U.S. commercial entities in space. With private sector investment surging—particularly in low-Earth orbit broadband services such as SpaceX’s Starlink—the FCC is now streamlining its processes to better align with both commercial and military needs.
“Dual use is the name of the game,” Schwarz said, explaining that many commercial space systems now also support military applications. He added that the agency is working to shorten the often lengthy licensing timelines that can delay the rollout of critical satellite infrastructure.
To that end, the FCC has made notable progress, reducing its licensing backlog by 35% since January. This includes pending approvals for both space stations and related ground facilities.
A key area of focus is the regulation of non-geostationary satellite systems. The FCC is reviewing existing “power limit” rules to prevent signal interference between satellites in low-Earth orbit and traditional geostationary satellites. Updates to these rules could pave the way for significantly faster, fiber-like internet speeds delivered from space.
“We’re hopeful that these changes will unlock much higher throughput capabilities,” Schwarz said.
The FCC is also exploring the potential of underutilized frequency bands to accommodate the growing demand for satellite communications. The agency has initiated a formal rulemaking process to evaluate the opening of approximately 20,000 megahertz of new spectrum, including the 12 GHz, 42 GHz, 52 GHz, and W-band ranges. Expanded access to these bands could bolster both commercial and military satellite systems.
These reforms are taking shape as other countries race to revise their own spectrum policies to support next-generation satellite technologies. Schwarz said the FCC’s efforts aim to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and that a diverse range of providers can offer services to both government and commercial customers.
“We want a dynamic and competitive marketplace,” he said. “The more spectrum we make available, the more room there is for innovation—big companies, startups, and everyone in between.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has made these space-related reforms a strategic priority, recognizing the increasing importance of satellite infrastructure in both national security and economic planning.