The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has circulated a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for consideration at its March 26, 2026, Open Meeting. The draft NPRM proposes two paths to making spectrum available for “emergent space operations” (a.k.a., cutting-edge non-telecommunications-focused space operations). If adopted, comments will be due 30 days after the draft NPRM is published in the Federal Register, and reply comments will be due 30 days later.
Titled “Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff,” the draft NPRM reflects the Commission’s growing emphasis on ensuring that the United States maintains its leadership in the rapidly expanding commercial space sector. In particular, the Commission notes that many emerging space missions — such as satellite servicing, orbital laboratories, and robotic activities on the lunar surface — require reliable spectrum for operational and safety functions. However, these non-telecommunications-focused services have not traditionally commanded the FCC’s regulatory attention and face a shortage of usable and readily accessible spectrum.
The draft NPRM proposes to address the spectrum needs of these technologies by: (1) exploring ways to clarify existing regulations to enable spectrum access, and (2) identifying new spectrum bands for potential use by emerging technologies.