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S3639119th CongressWALLET

SAT Streamlining Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

In Committee

Summary

Streamline and speed FCC licensing for satellites and related telecommunications. This bill would create a new radiofrequency licensing framework that folds market access grants into standard authorization rules, sets firm decision deadlines, and builds in national‑security review paths.

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  • Satellite operators and market-access applicants would face faster, clearer reviews. The FCC would need to issue final decisions for many space and earth station applications within 1 year and market access grants would be limited to 15 years.
  • State and local governments would be barred from regulating the rates charged by licensees or market-access grantees, creating uniform federal pricing rules.
  • Entities with reportable foreign ownership would be referred to the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector for security review and the FCC would coordinate with the Assistant Secretary to expedite or extend processing when needed.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Simpler notices for satellite links

If enacted, NGSO operators would be able to add an authorized space station as a point of communication to a ground station by filing only a notice when no other ground‑station parameters change. They would not need to file a modification application for that addition. This would cut paperwork and speed routine operations for those operators.

Faster FCC licensing and renewals

If enacted, the FCC would have to write rules to carry out this law within one year. The FCC would check if applications are complete within 30 days and must grant or deny most space and earth‑station applications within one year. The FCC would also have a 180‑day deadline for renewals and shorter targets for certain modifications (90 days) and similar replacements (30 days). Extensions would be tightly limited and the FCC could issue short emergency grants up to 180 days with required reasons.

New foreign ownership security reviews

If enacted, the FCC would have to refer applicants with reportable foreign ownership that lack a prior review, or that changed ownership, to the federal security review committee. The FCC could also refer other applications at its discretion for national‑security and foreign‑ownership review. The bill would add definitions and narrow 'national defense or security' to mean protection from foreign aggression, which could limit some review scope.

Shorter market access terms and renewals

If enacted, new grants of market access could not last more than 15 years and existing grants would expire no later than 15 years after enactment. The FCC could also create a simpler renewal path for grantees who remain in compliance and whose risk profile has not changed. Renewal terms generally could not exceed the original term and market access renewals are capped at 15 years.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 1/14/2026

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]

    KS • R

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 6/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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