The Senate passed the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act Friday,...
The Senate passed the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act Friday, which, as expected, includes a provision that would reduce export restrictions on some satellites and their components (CD Dec 20 p16). The NDAA conference report was approved 81-14. The provision…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
is based on the Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act, S-3211, introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. Colorado is a national hub for the space industry, Bennet said in a press release (http://xrl.us/bn7hj5). These reforms to satellite export controls “will allow businesses to expand their operations and invest in new technologies that will help grow our state’s economy,” he said. The legislation will provide “a more even playing field for U.S. satellite companies, spurring economic and job growth and bolstering the leadership of the U.S. space community for many years,” the Satellite Industry Association said. The provision “will remove the legislative mandate that required one-size-fits-all regulation for satellite trade,” SIA said. House lawmakers also approved the NDAA last week. Members of the space and satellite industry reiterated the need for reforms following a review from the Defense and State departments backing the removal of non-critical satellites from the U.S. munitions list (CD April 19 p7).