Bill Sponsor
House Bill 7021
116th Congress(2019-2020)
LAUNCHES Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on May 26, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
May 26, 2020
Latest Action
May 26, 2020
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
7021
Congress
116
Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Science, Technology, Communications
Primary focus of measure is natural sciences, space exploration, research policy and funding, research and development, STEM education, scientific cooperation and communication; technology policies, telecommunication, information technology; digital media, journalism. Measures concerning scientific education may fall under Education policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Florida
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Leveraging American Understanding of Next-generation Challenges Exploring Space Act or the LAUNCHES Act

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries.

Under current law, commercial missions launching from the United States to space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during launch, and private companies must apply to the FCC to receive special temporary authority to use such spectrum.

The bill requires the FCC to adopt service rules for access to specified frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and to allocate such frequencies on a co-primary basis for such launches and reentries.

The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) automation of the FCC's review process for access applications, and (4) improved coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to increase the speed of review for such applications.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
05/26/2020
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
05/26/2020
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:42:49 PM