August 07th, 2025
Reforms Will Unleash New Ways to Connect Between Earth and Space
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted to accelerate innovation and growth in America’s space economy, most notably for startups and new businesses. The Commission adopted new rules which streamline processes to accelerate the development of neutral-host ground infrastructure that has proven successful in the wireless industry and reduces filing requirements for satellite operators.
These reforms intend to boost the nascent Ground-Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) business model that allows multiple satellite systems to share the same ground station. The new rules eliminate needless paperwork and clear regulatory barriers to GSaaS, a business model that gives satellite operators—especially startups and emerging growth companies—the ability to send and receive signals without having to build their own ground infrastructure.
The FCC’s reforms give this exciting business model the solid regulatory footing it previously lacked. The Order establishes a new process for ground station operators to receive a baseline license without first identifying a specific satellite point of communication. For each new point of communication, only a simple FCC notification will be needed. This one change would eliminate approximately 49% of earth station modification applications.
Today’s action further streamlines and expedites the application process for space stations and earth stations by moving away from regulations that require FCC approval for making even the smallest changes to a satellite system. The new rules streamline and expedite processes for space stations and earth stations, including removing many requirements to file license modification applications.
The reforms expand the list of license modifications that do not require prior authorization, adopt a 30-day shot clock for most earth station renewal applications, and eliminate repetitive requests for special temporary authority for geostationary orbit satellites. The reforms eliminate outdated rules like the requirement for applicants to print and retain a paper copy of the ICFS application for their files (approximately 21,000 paper pages a year). back...
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted to accelerate innovation and growth in America’s space economy, most notably for startups and new businesses. The Commission adopted new rules which streamline processes to accelerate the development of neutral-host ground infrastructure that has proven successful in the wireless industry and reduces filing requirements for satellite operators.
These reforms intend to boost the nascent Ground-Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) business model that allows multiple satellite systems to share the same ground station. The new rules eliminate needless paperwork and clear regulatory barriers to GSaaS, a business model that gives satellite operators—especially startups and emerging growth companies—the ability to send and receive signals without having to build their own ground infrastructure.
The FCC’s reforms give this exciting business model the solid regulatory footing it previously lacked. The Order establishes a new process for ground station operators to receive a baseline license without first identifying a specific satellite point of communication. For each new point of communication, only a simple FCC notification will be needed. This one change would eliminate approximately 49% of earth station modification applications.
Today’s action further streamlines and expedites the application process for space stations and earth stations by moving away from regulations that require FCC approval for making even the smallest changes to a satellite system. The new rules streamline and expedite processes for space stations and earth stations, including removing many requirements to file license modification applications.
The reforms expand the list of license modifications that do not require prior authorization, adopt a 30-day shot clock for most earth station renewal applications, and eliminate repetitive requests for special temporary authority for geostationary orbit satellites. The reforms eliminate outdated rules like the requirement for applicants to print and retain a paper copy of the ICFS application for their files (approximately 21,000 paper pages a year). back...
