General Policy Issues image of the White House

In addition to its main focus areas, the Office of Space Commercialization also participates in various policy making activities affecting the commercial space industry as a whole, including broad national space policy reviews, international space fora, and other cross-cutting efforts. Several of these are described below.

National Space Policies

The White House National Security Council, in conjunction with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, established the Space Policy Coordinating Committee (Space PCC) in 2001 for the purpose of coordinating national space policy matters affecting multiple agencies of the federal government. The Department of Commerce is a key member of the Space PCC, representing the interests of both the commercial space sector and NOAA's civilian space program.

In June 2002, the President directed the Space PCC to undertake a National Space Policy Review to revise and update the existing set of White House directives related to space. The Office of Space Commercialization was active in the review, along with other Commerce representatives from NOAA, International Trade Administration, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The Space PCC has completed its review, having produced five major national space policy directives:

The Space PCC continues to meet to discuss the implementation of each national space policy. The Office of Space Commercialization plays an important role in the interagency process to ensure that any new policy decisions are consistent with the interests of U.S. space commerce.

Specifically, the Office works to ensure implementation of the Commercial Space Guidelines of the National Space Policy, which state that, "It is in the interest of the United States to foster the use of U.S. commercial space capabilities around the globe and to enable a dynamic, domestic commercial space sector."

The Commercial Space Guidelines direct the nation's departments and agencies to use U.S. commercial space capabilities and services to the maximum practical extent; purchase commercial capabilities and services when they are available in the commercial marketplace and meet U.S. Government requirements; refrain from conducting activities that preclude, deter, or compete with U.S. commercial space activities, unless required by national security or public safety; ensure that U.S. Government space activities, technology, and infrastructure are made available for private use on a reimbursable, non-interference basis to the maximum practical extent, consistent with national security; and maintain a timely and responsive regulatory environment for licensing commercial space activities.

Aerospace Commission

Cover of the Aerospace Commission report The Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry was established by Sec. 1092 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398). The Commission was formed to study the future of the U.S. aerospace industry in the global economy, particularly in relationship to U.S. national security; and to assess the future importance of the domestic aerospace industry for the economic and national security of the United States.

The Office of Space Commercialization provided input to the Commission on the development of commercial spaceports, high-tech education and workforce initiatives, existing space market data, and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The International Trade Administration served as the lead Commerce Department representative to the Commission.

The Commission's final report to the President and Congress was issued in November 2002, including recommendations to promote the commercialization of space, protect critical national infrastructure such as GPS and radio spectrum, attract students to aerospace careers, and increase the overall competitiveness of the U.S. aerospace industry.

International Space Cooperation

The Office of Space Commercialization is consulted whenever the U.S. Government considers entering into bilateral science and technology (S&T) or space cooperation agreements with other countries, in order to ensure that any relevant U.S. space commerce interests are appropriately addressed.

The Office is also consulted when the U.S. Government sends delegates to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which has developed several multilateral treaties and agreements on international space law. Current COPUOS discussion topics include space debris and space property law.

The Office of Space Commercialization also participates directly in workshops, seminars, and conferences hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), which promotes international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. Recent activities include seminars and workshops on how satellite technology can be applied in developing countries to support sustainable development.

The Office has limited involvement in other fora addressing international space policy matters, including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Futures Project on the Commercialization of Space and the Development of Space Infrastructure.

Space Industrial Base

In 2007, the National Security Space Office (NSSO) and the Air Force partnered with the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the U.S. space industrial base. The Office of Space Commercialization worked with BIS to identify companies to participate in the survey and to provide key inputs and guidance into the survey and final report. The BIS data was presented to the Space Industrial Base Council (SIBC) of the NSSO in June and was used in the Defense Industrial Base Assessment Report of the U.S. Space Industry issued by Air Force on August 31, 2007.

Satellite Export Controls

To export or reexport satellites and most satellite components to a foreign country, or to launch a satellite on a foreign launch vehicle, one must first attain proper authorization from the U.S. Government. Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Department of State is the licensing authority for most commercial communications satellite exports and reexports, although recent interagency reviews of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) have resulted in the transfer of several categories of space-qualified components to the Department of Commerce's Commerce Control List (CCL).

The Office of Space Commercialization remains concerned that the impacts of the export control regime have a disproportional affect on U.S. space companies, particularly those in the lower tiers. This is especially alarming as data from the Air Force Defense Industrial Base Assessment Report of the U.S. Space Industry, issued on August 31, 2007, suggest that most research and development spending and innovation is done by small and medium space companies. Additionally the report states, "export control compliance costs grew 37% from 2003-2006 with the burden of compliance significantly higher for firms in the lower tiers."

Radio Spectrum Issues

All satellite communication systems require the use of radio frequency bands ("spectrum") to operate. The spectrum available for commercial use is very limited and considered a precious commodity. Within the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for managing the assignment of commercial spectrum, while the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) manages government spectrum.

U.S. providers of mobile satellite communication services are striving to maximize the use of their limited spectrum in innovative ways, such as by reusing frequencies assigned to their satellites on ground-based transmitters known as ancillary terrestrial components (ATC). The implementation of ATC allows the continuous provision of communication services in areas where satellite reception may be poor (e.g., inside cities).

The Office of Space Commercialization has worked closely with NTIA's Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC) to help ensure that such ATC additions will be allowable and that they will not interfere with existing government spectrum users such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). In January 2003, the FCC granted flexibility in the use of spectrum for mobile satellite service providers in three frequency bands, provided they meet specific conditions and limitations.

In addition to supporting the satellite communication industry's use of radio spectrum, the Office of Space Commercialization participates in U.S. efforts to protect GPS spectrum from interference both internationally and domestically.

External References

For additional information, visit any of the following external websites: