Satellite industry pitches streamlined licensing and spectrum access as priorities for resilience and growth

Witnesses from the satellite industry told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee that satellite services have expanded rapidly and play an increasingly central role in communications resilience, disaster response and closing broadband gaps.

Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association, said the industry already supports “hundreds of millions of Americans and billions of people around the world every day,” and that U.S. companies operate more than 12,000 active satellites and expect tens of thousands more launches by the end of the decade.

Why it matters: Satellite connectivity can provide immediate backup for disrupted terrestrial links, supply positioning, navigation and timing, and support emergency response when ground infrastructure is degraded. Industry witnesses nevertheless said satellites do not replace subsea fiber for bulk capacity and low latency.

Stroup urged Congress to avoid regulations that leave U.S. providers at a disadvantage internationally and recommended five priorities: streamlined regulation, leadership in standards, effective space debris policy, procurement streamlining, and sufficient spectrum access. He and other witnesses pointed to the international process at the International Telecommunication Union and the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC‑27) as key venues to secure spectrum rights.

Members asked about spaceports, launch incentives and bonding; Representative Dunn and others supported tax‑exempt bonds for spaceport infrastructure to spur private investment in launch facilities. Witnesses argued that more U.S. launch and landing facilities and timely licenses would keep manufacturing and service jobs and follow‑on innovation in the United States.

The subcommittee did not take formal action during the hearing. Members asked for follow‑up on specific licensing timelines and spectrum proposals.