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119-hr-8255119th CongressWALLET

SAT Streamlining Act

Sponsored By: Representative Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

In Committee

Summary

Speeds up approvals for satellite and earth‑station licenses. It sets strict timelines, new fast‑track modification paths, and rules for foreign ownership and national security review.

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  • Satellite operators get faster, predictable approvals. The Commission must decide most license and market‑access applications within 1 year and grants last up to 15 years.
  • Receive‑only and earth‑station operators face shorter clocks. Receive‑only authorizations must be decided within 30 days and many minor modifications within 90 days.
  • Applications with reportable foreign ownership are referred to the interagency Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation for national‑security review, and those reviews can extend statutory deadlines under the Act.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Faster earth-station approvals and changes

If enacted, the bill would give clearer, faster deadlines for earth‑station decisions. The FCC would have one year from public notice to act on earth‑station applications, 30 days for receive‑only earth stations, 90 days for limited, non‑substantial modification requests, and 30 days for technically similar replacements. The bill would exclude certain changes from fast treatment, such as adding an ancillary terrestrial component or switching between fixed and mobile satellite service. It would also let NGSO operators add an authorized NGSO space station to an authorized ground station on notification only if no other ground‑station parameters change.

Short emergency permissions for satellites

If enacted, the bill would let the FCC grant temporary emergency authority for up to 180 days when extraordinary public‑interest circumstances exist. The FCC could extend one time for another 180 days and must include a short statement explaining the grant. The emergency power would not apply to requests to add an ancillary terrestrial component or to change a service between fixed and mobile satellite service. The FCC would be required to process related petitions quickly.

Faster satellite licensing and renewals

If enacted, the bill would add a new federal licensing system for certain satellite services and earth stations. It would define which pending applications and existing authorizations are covered and align service names to international radio rules. The new rules would not apply to experimental or amateur radio authorizations. The bill would also put Section 346 authorizations into existing renewal procedures so holders follow the same renewal steps as other communications licenses.

Faster FCC decisions, added reviews

If enacted, the bill would set strict deadlines for FCC action. The FCC would have 30 days to check completeness, and an application is treated as accepted for filing at day 30 if the FCC misses that check. For many space‑station and market‑access applications the FCC would have one year from public notice to grant or deny, and initial grants would be limited to terms up to 15 years. At the same time the FCC must limit information requests, define reportable foreign ownership in rulemaking within 12 months, and must refer applications with reportable foreign ownership to an interagency security review, which can add review time. The bill would also limit deadline extensions: no more than two extensions of up to 90 days each and the FCC must notify Congress with reasons.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

KY • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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