S. 1648, Launch Communications Act

January 16, 2024

Cost Estimate

As passed by the Senate on October 31, 2023

At A Glance

S. 1648, Launch Communications Act As passed by the Senate on October 31, 2023
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars			2024	2024-2028		2023-2033
Direct Spending (Outlays)			0	0		0
Revenues			0	0		0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit			0	0		0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)			*	*		not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2034?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?			No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2034?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?			No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?			Yes, Under Threshold
* = between zero and $500,000.

Summary

S. 1648 would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue final rules within 90 days of enactment related to an ongoing rulemaking that would permit businesses to use certain radio frequencies during commercial space launches and reentries. In addition, the act would require the FCC to issue rules to streamline the application process for businesses to use such frequencies. Those rules would modify the process for authorizing commercial space launches from public and private sites, improve coordination between the FCC and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) to increase the speed of the application review process, and automate this process for commercial space launches and reentries.