Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy
The Office of Space Commerce promotes U.S. commercial remote sensing satellite services by contributing to the development of government policies affecting the industry, voicing the industry’s interests within interagency policy discussions, and representing U.S. commercial interests in international negotiations.
Separately, NOAA’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office licenses the operation of U.S. commercial imaging satellites and manages the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES). Learn more
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross delivered remarks at the June 4, 2019, meeting of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES). The Secretary discussed the ongoing rulemaking to overhaul NOAA’s commercial remote sensing licensing process. He told the committee, …
Today the Department of Commerce published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems. View proposed rules at federalregister.gov Commerce is proposing a complete rewrite of its current regulations, last updated in 2006, to …
Commerce Proposes Streamlined Licensing Rules for Private Remote Sensing Satellites Read more »
Today, at the fourth meeting of the National Space Council, Under Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelley reported on the Commerce Department’s progress in promoting U.S. space commerce and implementing the tasks assigned to it under Space Policy Directives 2 …
Commerce Provides Updates at 4th National Space Council Meeting Read more »
On October 15, 2018, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross submitted to Congress a legislative proposal to establish a new Bureau of Space Commerce headed by an Assistant Secretary for Space Commerce. Download legislative proposal (PDF) Download section-by-section analysis (PDF) Section-by-Section …
Legislative Proposal to Establish Bureau of Space Commerce Read more »
Today, the Commerce Department published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Licensing Private Remote Sensing Space Systems. View notice in the Federal Register View public comments at regulations.gov Commerce is considering revisions to its regulations for the licensing …
Request for Comments on Remote Sensing Regulatory Reform Read more »
Today, during the third meeting of the National Space Council, President Trump signed Space Policy Directive-3, the first National Space Traffic Management Policy. The policy provides guidelines and direction to ensure that the United States is a leader in providing …
Today, President Trump signed a space policy directive to reform America’s commercial space regulatory framework, ensuring the nation’s place as a leader in space commerce. The directive includes recommendations developed by the National Space Council regarding commercial space transportation regulations, …
President Signs Directive on Space Regulatory Reform Read more »
Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross issued a statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 2809, the American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act. View statement The stated purpose of the bill is (1) to enhance the existing …
Statement of Secretary Ross on House Passage of Space Commerce Bill Read more »
Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross participated in the second meeting of the National Space Council, held at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Among other things, the Council approved a set of recommendations to the President for regulatory reforms …
On October 5, 2017, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross attended the first meeting of the reconstituted National Space Council. As Chairman of the Council, Vice President Mike Pence called for a full review of the U.S. regulatory framework for commercial …
Commerce Department Now Accepting Public Inputs on Regulatory Streamlining Read more »
On November 25, President Obama signed the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. The legislation renamed the Office of Space Commercialization to the Office of Space Commerce (its original designation) and added several functions. The new functions include promoting U.S. …
Law Restores Original Name of Office of Space Commerce Read more »
On May 13, 2014, the Departments of State and Commerce released a set of interim final rules that move many commercial satellites and related items from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List. This long awaited rule change …
Revised Satellite Export Control Rules Published Read more »