Government Seeks Input on Spy Satellite Licensing Red Tape
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is updating how private companies get licenses to use space cameras that take pictures of Earth. They’re creating a new online system to make applying easier and want your thoughts by March 17, 2025. This affects businesses in the space imaging world and aims to keep things secure while helping the industry grow without extra paperwork headaches.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
New online licensing portal (CLCSS)
NOAA will create a new online platform called the Commerce Licensing and Compliance System for Space (CLCSS) to let private remote‑sensing companies submit license applications, modification requests, notifications, and annual certifications in a single, fillable online system.
Optional Initial Contact Form saves 40–50 hours
NOAA is renewing an optional Initial Contact Form (ICF) that can be submitted before a full application; if NOAA determines after reviewing the ICF that a full license application is not required, a potential applicant will save 40–50 hours of paperwork by not submitting the application.
Standard License Modification Form
NOAA will add a standard License Modification Form with set questions so licensees can request changes to license provisions and state the date the change takes effect; NOAA expects this will expedite processing and remove a moderate amount of paperwork.
Mandatory collection and estimated paperwork burden
The information collections for licensing and notifications are mandatory for licensees (the ICF and DAN are voluntary). NOAA estimates 100 respondents, with a license application taking 25 hours, a license amendment 1 hour, launch/deployment and disposal/ anomaly/ insolvency notifications 30 minutes each, annual compliance certification 3 hours, ICF 20 minutes, DAN 10 minutes, total annual burden 100 hours, and estimated total annual cost to the public $0.
Data Availability Notification may alter license terms
NOAA is renewing an optional Data Availability Notification (DAN). The DAN provides information on unenhanced data availability from foreign or domestic systems and may be compared to an applicant's unenhanced data to adjust license conditions or restrictions.
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