Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy
Under Space Policy Directive 2, “Streamlining Regulations on Commercial Use of Space,” the Department of Commerce is engaged in a range of regulatory reform activities intended to improve U.S. industry competitiveness and ensure the United States remains the flag of choice for businesses operating in space.
On January 6, 2020, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published an interim final rule to make certain items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and to impose a license requirement …
Comments Requested on New Export Licensing Rule Affecting Imagery Analysis Software Read more »
On December 3, Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell delivered a keynote address at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd Annual Space Summit, LAUNCH: The Space Economy. Below are his remarks as prepared for …
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross spoke at the August 20, 2019, meeting of the National Space Council, held in Dulles, Virginia. He provided updates on the Department’s activities in commercial space, including implementation of the …
Secretary Ross Remarks from 6th National Space Council Meeting Read 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 …
The Office of Space Commerce has extended the comment filing date for its Request for Information (RFI) on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) services. The new due date is May 23, …
Due date for SSA/STM comments extended to May 23 Read more »
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, …
Commerce Proposes Streamlined Licensing Rules for Private Remote Sensing Satellites Read more »
On April 17, 2019, the Department of Commerce hosted a public meeting to discuss the National Space Council’s ongoing review of space export controls under Space Policy Directive-2, “Streamlining Regulations on Commercial Use of Space.” …
Today, the Department of Commerce published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) via the Office of Space Commerce. The RFI seeks information from interested parties on: Specific capabilities commercial entities might currently …
On April 9, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross delivered a keynote address at the 35th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO. Among other things, he announced that the Departments of Commerce and State will co-host …
Secretary Ross Remarks from 2019 Space Symposium Read more »
The Departments of Commerce and State will jointly host a Space Enterprise Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 26-27, 2019. The purpose is to forge partnerships with the space industry, and to promote U.S. Government …
Commerce & State to Host Space Enterprise Summit on June 26-27 Read more »
The Commerce Department will host a public meeting on space export controls on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The meeting is being organized in cooperation with the Department of Transportation …
DOC to Host Space Export Control Industry Day on April 17 (UPDATED) Read more »
On March 27, Jason Kim of the Office of Space Commerce delivered a presentation on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) issues at the Munich Satellite Navigation Summit in Munich, Germany. The presentation provides updates on: …
GPS Presentation from Munich Satellite Navigation Summit Read more »
On March 26, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross attended the fifth meeting of the National Space Council in Huntsville, Alabama, to provide updates on the Commerce Department’s continuing implementation of Space Policy Directives 2 and …
Secretary Ross Remarks from 5th Space Council Meeting Read more »
View report at commerce.gov (PDF) On March 26, the Commerce Department released a report titled, “Driving Space Commerce Through Effective Spectrum Policy.” The report, sent to President Trump by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, makes …
Commerce Secretary Issues Space Commerce Spectrum Report Read more »
On March 8, the Departments of State and Commerce each issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting public comments for a new review of space-related export controls. This action follows direction from the …
Comments Requested for New Review of Space-Related Export Controls Read more »
On December 12, 2018, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross hosted a Space Investment Summit at the Department of Commerce, bringing together leaders from the commercial space industry and the finance community to learn about each others’ …
On December 5, 2018, Kevin O’Connell delivered a keynote address at the 13th Annual Eilene M. Galloway Memorial Symposium held in Washington, D.C., by the International Institute of Space Law. Below are his remarks as …
Advancing Space Commerce: What Does “Light Touch, Permissive Regulation” Mean? Read more »
On November 29, 2018, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross addressed the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) at its 2018 Fall Board of Governors meeting in Laguna Niguel, California. His remarks described the broad range of activities …
On November 6, 2018, Kevin O’Connell delivered a keynote address on space traffic management at the #EUSpace for Business conference in Graz, Austria. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery. Good morning, ladies and …
STM Remarks from #EUSpace for Business Conference 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 …
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) …
Legislative Proposal to Establish Bureau of Space Commerce Read more »
On October 4, 2018, the State Department issued minor revisions to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), including two changes related to space systems: In response to industry feedback, the State Department added a …
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 …
Request for Comments on Remote Sensing Regulatory Reform Read more »
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 …
President Signs Directive on Space Regulatory Reform Read more »