Regulatory Compliance News

FCC Establishes Dedicated Spectrum Rules and New Part 26 Framework for Commercial Space Launch Operations

The Federal Communications Commission adopted comprehensive regulatory changes under Order FCC 23-76 in ET Docket No. 13-115, modernizing 47 CFR Parts 0, 1, 2, and creating a dedicated Part 26 to support non-Federal space launch operations. The ruling transitions commercial launch providers away from relying primarily on temporary experimental licenses and special temporary authorizations toward a predictable, standardized spectrum framework. By allocating dedicated secondary spectrum and formalizing technical requirements, the FCC aims to support the rapid growth of the commercial space industry while protecting critical federal satellite systems and terrestrial communications from harmful radio frequency interference.

Under the updated allocation framework, the Commission established a new secondary non-Federal space operation allocation in the 2025–2110 MHz band and expanded access across the entire 2200–2290 MHz band by removing previous restrictions that limited commercial use to four specific sub-channels. Additionally, the rules permit expanded federal use of non-federal satellite bands, including allowing federal earth stations to communicate with non-federal Fixed-Satellite Service space stations and permitting federal space stations in the 399.9–400.05 MHz Mobile-Satellite Service band. To manage shared spectrum usage, the FCC created Part 26 rules governing Space Launch Services, which establish licensing eligibility, mandatory frequency coordination protocols, power limits, and emission masks tailored to telemetry, tracking, and telecommand operations during space vehicle launch and re-entry phases.

The finalized rules came into effect on September 4, 2024, providing commercial launch operators, aerospace equipment manufacturers, and testing entities with clear regulatory certainty. Commercial space entities must ensure that launch vehicles, ground stations, and onboard telemetry equipment comply with the new Part 26 technical standards and frequency coordination mechanisms prior to mission execution. This dedicated framework reflects ongoing federal initiatives to streamline space infrastructure approvals, ensuring that spectrum management keeps pace with the expanding volume of commercial rocket launches and satellite deployments in the United States.