The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, Wi-Fi, satellite, and cable. Within the space industry, the FCC, particularly through its Space Bureau, leads policy and licensing matters related to satellite and space-based communications activities. It authorizes satellite and earth station systems, streamlines regulatory processes, and fosters efficient use of spectrum and orbital resources, coordinating with other agencies on space policy. The FCC also regulates space launch operations and orbital debris mitigation.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
A coalition of infrastructure providers including American Tower and Crown Castle filed protests with the Federal Communications Commission under Docket 25-302 regarding EchoStar’s spectrum divestitures.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other Western regulatory bodies increased scrutiny of APT Satellite’s landing rights and spectrum access in response to security concerns.
Amazon Leo requested a 24-month extension from the Federal Communications Commission on January 30, 2026 to meet its mid-constellation deployment milestone.
Amazon Leo remains committed to a final Federal Communications Commission deadline of mid-2029 for the full deployment of 3,232 satellites.
On January 30, 2026 Amazon Leo requested a 24-month extension from the Federal Communications Commission to meet its mid-constellation deployment milestone.
The Federal Communications Commission implemented a five-year deorbit rule in 2022.
The Federal Communications Commission implemented a mandatory five-year post-mission disposal requirement for non-geostationary orbit satellites that took effect on September 29, 2024.
Amazon filed with the Federal Communications Commission for a two-year extension of a pending July milestone to have half of its 3,232-satellite constellation deployed.
Starlink began 2026 with roughly 9,500 working satellites in orbit and Federal Communications Commission approval for an additional 7,500 satellites.
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed replacing legacy Part 25 rules with a new framework intended to function as a licensing assembly line for satellites and earth stations.
The Federal Communications Commission’s 5-Year Rule mandates that satellites deorbit within five years of mission completion for satellites operating above 400 kilometers.
Dr. Jay Schwarz is Chief of the Federal Communications Commission Space Bureau.
The Federal Communications Commission plans to retire legacy Part 25 rules in favor of a modular Part 100 framework.
Amazon requested a 24-month extension from the Federal Communications Commission to meet deployment milestones for Amazon Leo, citing a global shortage of heavy-lift capacity.
SpaceX submitted a request to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to license an orbital data center consisting of 1 million satellites.
On February 5, 2026 the Federal Communications Commission granted Logos Space Services, Inc. authority to construct, launch, and operate a non-geostationary orbit satellite system.
The Federal Communications Commission granted Logos Space a license to deploy a 4,178-satellite low Earth orbit constellation.
SpaceX filed plans with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for a constellation of up to one million satellites intended to operate as orbital data centers.
Amazon requested a 24-month extension from the Federal Communications Commission on January 30, 2026 to meet a critical deployment milestone for its satellite broadband network Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper).
The Open Technology Institute's report calls on the Federal Communications Commission to authorize a multi‑stakeholder group to standardize seamless handoff protocols.