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.
Today, the Office of Space Commerce and the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation published the second edition of their Introduction to U.S. Export Controls for the Commercial Space Industry. The guidebook provides basic information to help commercial space organizations, …
Plain Language Guidebook on Satellite Export Controls Read more »
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 January 10, 2017, the State Department updated its satellite export control rules under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The revised rules include several notable changes requested by the commercial space industry and advocated by the Commerce Department, …
Today, the State Department published a final rule revising Category XII of the U.S. Munitions List (USML) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). View final rule at federalregister.gov Among other things, the rule updates the export controls on military GPS/GNSS receivers …
On February 19, the State Department published a proposed export control rule change affecting GPS/GNSS user equipment. Among other things, the rule will move the existing GPS/GNSS receiver controls found in Category XV of the U.S. Munitions List (Spacecraft Systems …
Proposed Changes to GPS/GNSS Export Controls Published Read more »
Today, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a “clean-up” rule for its new spacecraft export regulations, similar to the correction published by State on Monday. The Commerce correction rule is (retroactively) effective November 10, 2014. Commerce’s correction rule …
Technical Corrections to DOC Spacecraft Export Control Rules Read more »
Starting today, U.S. commercial communications satellites are no longer considered defense articles subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). November 10 is the effective date for most of the sweeping satellite export rule changes published six months ago. …
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 »
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has completed its analysis of the data collected through its “Deep Dive” survey of the U.S. space industrial base. BIS has begun publishing publicly available reports that detail findings and recommendations …
Results of U.S. Space Industry “Deep Dive” Assessment Read more »
On May 24, 2013, the State and Commerce Departments published a pair of Proposed Rules to transfer certain satellites from the U.S. Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL). This move was made possible by the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which returned …
Proposed Changes to Satellite Export Controls Released for Public Comment Read more »
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Section 1261 of the law repeals the 1999 legislation that placed satellites and related items under the strict rules of the International Traffic in …
Law Clears Way for Satellites to be Removed from U.S. Munitions List Read more »
On April 18, the Departments of Defense and State released a report on space export control policy reform, recommending that many satellites and satellite components be transferred from the USML to the Commerce Control List (CCL) administered by the Department …
Report on Satellite Export Control Policy Reform Read more »