Analysis of Federal Communications Commission Nongeostationary Space Station Applications (2000–2022)

This study analyzed 3248 nongeosynchronous orbit satellite and launch vehicle filings submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2021. Post-2010, applications to the International Communications Filing System (ICFS) and Experimental Licensing System (ELS) surged. Of the 3248 total filings, 502 were received through the ICFS [308 Part 25 and 194 special temporary authorities (STAs)] and 2746 through the ELS (1449 Part 5 and 1297 STAs). The STAs were the dominant filing type for both ICFS (38.6%) and ELS (42.7%). In ICFS Part 25, “grant of authority” constituted 47.7%, with rejections/dismissals at 13.3%. The ELS Part 5 saw 86.7% “granted” applications and 13.1% “denied/dismissed.” Commercial STAs boasted an average wait time of 89 days, whereas part 25 applications faced a 359-day wait. Experimental STAs and Part 5 applications were typically addressed within the initial hundred days, averaging 47 and 98 days, respectively. The Ku-, Ka-, and S-band were the top requested frequencies in ICFS, whereas ELS showed increased interest in the L- and S-bands. The study underscores FCC’s adaptation and highlights the challenge of keeping pace with this evolving technology.