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Summary
The Secure Space Act prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from granting licenses or market access for satellite systems to entities that manufacture or provide covered communications equipment, or their affiliates. The restriction applies to both geostationary and nongeostationary orbit satellite systems, as well as to authorizations for individually licensed and blanket-licensed earth stations. The FCC must issue rules to implement this prohibition within one year of the law's enactment. The ban applies to all licenses and authorizations granted after the law takes effect.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2] (R-KY)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Frank Pallone’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- COX ENTERPRISES $28,000
- AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS $17,200
- JOHNSON & JOHNSON $15,500
- RESOLUTION PUBLIC AFFAIRS $14,800
- NULL $14,375
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Frank Pallone → · Outside spending →
Actions (13)
- Apr 29, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Apr 28, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Apr 28, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1652) · house
- Apr 28, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1652)
- Apr 28, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2458. · house
- Apr 28, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1652-1653) · house
- Apr 28, 2025 Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. · house
- Apr 24, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 42. · house
- Apr 24, 2025 Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-65. · house
- Apr 8, 2025 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 52 - 1. · house
- Apr 8, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Mar 27, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Text versions (4)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
AN ACT
To 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 that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Secure Space Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON GRANT OF CERTAIN SATELLITE LICENSES, UNITED STATES MARKET ACCESS, OR EARTH STATION AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) In General.—The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by redesignating sections 10 and 11 as sections 11 and 12, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 9 the following:
“SEC. 10. PROHIBITION ON GRANT OF CERTAIN SATELLITE LICENSES, UNITED STATES MARKET ACCESS, OR EARTH STATION AUTHORIZATIONS.
“(a) In General.—The Commission may not grant a license for, or a petition for a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using, 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 such license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by—
“(1) an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service; or
“(2) an affiliate (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153)) of an entity described in paragraph (1).
“(b) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) Blanket-licensed earth station.—The term ‘blanket- licensed earth station’ means an earth station that is licensed with a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system.
“(2) Gateway station.—The term ‘gateway station’ means an earth station or a group of earth stations that—
“(A) supports the routing and switching functions of a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system;
“(B) may also be used for telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions;
“(C) does not originate or terminate communication traffic; and
“(D) is not for the exclusive use of any customer.
“(3) Individually licensed earth station.—The term ‘individually licensed earth station’ means—
“(A) an earth station (other than a blanket- licensed earth station) that sends a signal to, and receives a signal from, a geostationary orbit satellite system or a nongeostationary orbit satellite system; or
“(B) a gateway station.”.
(b) Applicability.—Section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to the grant of a license, petition, or authorization on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Rules.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall issue rules to implement section 10 of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, as added by subsection (a).
Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2458
AN ACT
To 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 that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.
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