United States · Law · S
S. 1648 (118th)
Launch Communications Act
Introduced
17 May 2023
Last action
26 September 2024 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 118-85.
Sponsors
Eric Schmitt, John Hickenlooper
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
14 January 2025
Summary
Launch Communications Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate access to specified broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries. Under current law, commercial missions launching from the United States to space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during launch, and private companies must apply to the FCC to receive special temporary authority to use such spectrum. On June 28, 2021, the FCC issued a final rule adopting a nonfederal secondary allocation of the 2200-2290 megahertz frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum for use during commercial space launches and reentries. The bill requires the FCC to adopt service rules for access to additional frequencies for commercial space launches and reentries and complete associated rulemaking activities (e.g., those that set technical specifications and eligibility requirements) to implement the allocation of the frequencies. The FCC must also streamline the process for access authorizations, providing for (1) authorizations to access specified frequencies for multiple commercial space launches and reentries from one or more federal or private launch or reentry sites, (2) authorizations for multiple uses of such frequencies for a commercial space launch or reentry, (3) automation of the FCC's review process for access applications, and (4) increased coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to speed the review of such applications.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
17 May 2023
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
17 May 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
27 July 2023
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Source: Committee
18 September 2023
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 209.
Source: Calendars
18 September 2023
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
18 September 2023
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with amendments. Without written report.
Source: Committee
31 October 2023
Passed
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5266-5267; text: CR S5267)
Source: Floor
31 October 2023
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5266-5267; text: CR S5267)
Source: Floor
6 November 2023
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
6 November 2023
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
6 November 2023
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5309)
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5309)
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1648.
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5309-5310)
Source: Floor
17 September 2024
Floor
Mrs. Rodgers (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
24 September 2024
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
24 September 2024
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
26 September 2024
Became law
Became Public Law No: 118-85.
Source: President
26 September 2024
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
26 September 2024
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · undated · Official file
- Public Law · 27 September 2024 · Official file
- Engrossed in Senate · 31 October 2023 · Official file
- Reported to Senate · 18 September 2023 · Official file
- Introduced in Senate · 17 May 2023 · Official file
Documents
14 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 27 September 2024
Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 27 September 2024
Public Law
summary · EN · 26 September 2024
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 31 October 2023
Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 31 October 2023
Passed Senate
summary · EN · 31 October 2023
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 18 September 2023
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 18 September 2023
Reported to Senate
summary · EN · 18 September 2023
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 17 May 2023
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 17 May 2023
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 17 May 2023
Sponsors
- Eric Schmitt · R · Sponsor
- John Hickenlooper · D · Sponsor
- · sscm00 · Standing
Related records
- related to → Launch Communications Act
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1648
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/118/s/1648
- us · 118-s-1648 · source updated 14 January 2025