§60125 — Title 51 National and Commercial Space Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

Private companies may get a license to use a U.S. civilian government satellite or vehicle when spare space is available. The Secretary can approve a license if the system follows the subchapter’s rules, the company pays back the Government for all related costs (including a reasonable share of fixed, platform, data transmission, and launch costs), and the agency that runs the platform says the use will not interfere with its civilian mission. The Secretary can help firms find such opportunities. An agency may agree to allow use if Congress provides money in advance, the use fits the agency’s mission and legal authority, and the system is licensed before it operates. These rules do not cover activities under subchapter IV and do not change the FCC’s authority under the Communications Act of 1934.

Title 51, §60125

National and Commercial Space Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A private sector party may apply for a license to operate a private remote sensing space system which utilizes, on a space-available basis, a civilian United States Government satellite or vehicle as a platform for such system. The Secretary, pursuant to this subchapter, may license such system if it meets all conditions of this subchapter and—

(1)the system operator agrees to reimburse the Government in a timely manner for all related costs incurred with respect to such utilization, including a reasonable and proportionate share of fixed, platform, data transmission, and launch costs; and

(2)such utilization would not interfere with or otherwise compromise intended civilian Government missions, as determined by the agency responsible for such civilian platform.

(b)The Secretary may offer assistance to private sector parties in finding appropriate opportunities for such utilization.

(c)To the extent provided in advance by appropriation Acts, any United States Government agency may enter into agreements for such utilization if such agreements are consistent with such agency’s mission and statutory authority, and if such remote sensing space system is licensed by the Secretary before commencing operation.

(d)This section does not apply to activities carried out under subchapter IV.

(e)Nothing in this subchapter shall affect the authority of the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 6012515 U.S.C. 5625.Pub. L. 102–555, title II, § 205, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4173.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (e), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to chapter 5 (§ 151 et seq.) of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of Title 47 and Tables.

§60125 Agency Activities