MEDIUM IMPACTFCClicensingDocket: ET Docket No. 13-115
FCC Bureau Proposes Licensing and Coordination Procedures for the Space Launch Service
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau proposes licensing, frequency coordination and data requirements for non-Federal launch operations in the 2025-2110 MHz, 2200-2290 MHz and 2360-2395 MHz bands. It matters to launch providers that need radio authorization for launch vehicle telemetry and command.
Generated Sep 29, 20260 views
Background: Launch vehicles use radio links for telemetry, tracking and command, and for range safety functions. The FCC created a Space Launch Service to give commercial, non-Federal launches a clear regulatory home. Because these bands are shared with Federal users, including government ranges and other space operations, coordination is essential. In this Public Notice under ET Docket No. 13-115 (published December 23, 2024), the Bureau makes proposals and asks for comment on licensing and frequency coordination procedures and on data requirements.
Key provisions: The notice proposes procedures for Space Launch Service licensees seeking authorization to perform non-Federal launch operations in 2025-2110 MHz, 2200-2290 MHz and 2360-2395 MHz. The summary does not list the specific data elements or timelines, but such procedures typically cover what technical information applicants must file (frequencies, power, trajectories, timing and locations), how coordination with Federal users occurs, and how quickly requests are processed. Comments were to be filed in ET Docket No. 13-115.
Timeline: The provided data lists no deadline, and the notice dates from December 2024, so the comment cycle has likely closed. The next step is likely a Bureau decision or a public notice adopting procedures. Watch the docket for such action.
Implications: Clear procedures can reduce schedule risk for launch providers, as spectrum authorization is a gating item for launch. Data requirements may add work for applicants, but predictability helps campaign planning. Federal stakeholders will care about interference protection and timely coordination, and any process should reflect launch cadence, which is rising. Launch providers with frequent flights may want streamlined or repeated-use authorizations, while new entrants will need clear guidance on filing content. Coordination lead times will affect launch scheduling, especially at shared ranges.
This also interacts with other FCC efforts to modernize space licensing, so operators should consider whether final procedures align with broader reforms.
💡 What It Means
If you launch rockets commercially, you need permission to use specific radio frequencies during launch, and those frequencies are shared with the government. The Bureau is proposing a standard way to apply, coordinate and provide technical data.
A clear process should make it easier to plan launch dates, though it could also mean specific paperwork and lead times you must meet.
Because the comment period appears to have passed, the practical task is to prepare for final procedures.
👥 Who It Affects
Commercial launch providers, launch vehicle manufacturers, spaceport and range operators, payload customers dependent on launch schedules, Federal spectrum users and range authorities, and regulatory counsel supporting launch licensing.
✅ What To Do Next
1. Review the Public Notice and any docket filings in ET Docket No. 13-115.
2. Check whether the Bureau has issued a final decision or new notice.
3. Compare your current frequency coordination workflow with the proposed data requirements.
4. Build coordination lead times into launch manifests.
5. Engage with range and Federal contacts early for shared-band operations.
6. Assign an owner to track docket updates.