Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens national security and supply-chain resilience for U.S. satellite communications by blocking licenses tied to certain foreign-controlled vendors, but it does so at the cost of reduced market access and competition, legal uncertainty for firms with foreign ties, and possible delays in satellite deployments.
Telecommunications networks and U.S. satellite users face lower risk of compromise because the FCC would bar licenses tied to covered foreign-controlled vendors or their affiliates, reducing exposure to adversary-controlled equipment and services.
Consumers and businesses that rely on satellite links could see more trustworthy and resilient supply chains because the rule prevents market access for systems tied to flagged vendors.
Satellite operators and service providers with affiliates that include covered-equipment vendors could be blocked from the U.S. market, reducing competition and limiting service options for customers.
Foreign firms with ownership links (≥10%) to covered vendors may lose eligibility for earth-station or satellite licenses, creating legal uncertainty and potentially stranded investments for those companies and U.S. partners.
Implementation requires the FCC to issue rules within a year and could delay satellite licensing and deployments, slowing rollout of services that depend on affected authorizations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars FCC approval of certain satellite licenses, U.S. market access petitions, and earth station authorizations for applicants that are covered-equipment providers or affiliates (10%+ ownership).
Bars the FCC from approving certain satellite system licenses, U.S. market access petitions, or earth station authorizations if the applicant or its controller is an entity that produces or provides ‘‘covered communications equipment or services’’ (as defined in existing law) or an affiliate (defined as 10%+ ownership/control). The prohibition applies to grants made on or after enactment and requires the FCC to adopt implementing rules within one year. The amendment ties satellite and earth station access to the existing covered-equipment determinations in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, defines key terms (affiliate, blanket-licensed earth station, gateway station, individually licensed earth station), and renumbers subsequent sections of that Act accordingly.
Official title: Amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an authorization to use an individually licensed earth station or a blanket-licensed earth station, if the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by an entity identified on the Covered List or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 5, 2025 by Debra Fischer · Last progress September 24, 2026