FCC Takes a Deeper Dive into Satellites

Having dismantled its International Bureau, the US Federal Communications Commission has instead created two new departments: the Space Bureau and the Office of International Affairs.

This is a move by the agency to position the US to take a leading role in global space technology. It also gives the agency what it hopes is a greater voice in handling space debris which has become an issue as more and more satellites’ orbits decay.

The talk has been all about wireless and internet and related uses but what is missing from this recent announcement is what this all means for amateur radio satellites. No one has made a statement from the FCC as to how the CubeSats and other ham radio satellites will be handled, if at all, by these new offices.

The departments are expected to coordinate their efforts in such areas as the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference. The conference will take place in Dubai starting on 20th November 2023.