On October 6, 2025, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr declared October 2025 “Space Month” in an effort “to boost our country’s space economy.” The FCC’s stated goal for Space Month “is to make sure that the U.S. is the friendliest regulatory environment in the world for innovators to start, to grow, and to accelerate their space operations.”
In announcing Space Month, FCC Chairman Carr highlighted certain FCC proposals “to fundamentally alter our regulatory framework for space innovation.” Specifically, the FCC proposes to replace its “bespoke licensing process” for satellite and earth station requests with a “licensing assembly line.” Carr described this proposal as replacing a “Default to No” process with a “Default to Yes” framework, signaling a desire to simplify and expedite licensing requests, among other changes.
The streamlined framework may reduce operating and regulatory costs for satellite and other space technology developers. The regulatory changes may also open opportunities for more rapid innovation with implications for protection of intellectual property (IP). If space technologies can be developed and launched sooner, disclosures to government agencies or third-party customers may happen sooner. In such cases, it is important to identify and file patent applications earlier, to stay ahead of such disclosures. Having patent applications on file prior to third-party discussions can be crucial for protecting against unauthorized use of your inventions.
In connection with Space Month, the FCC released a tentative agenda for its October 2025 Open Commission Meeting. The agenda includes, among other things, the following:
- Space Modernization for the 21st Century
- Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service
- Protecting Against National Security Threats through the Equipment Authorization Program
The Open Commission Meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM ET and is open to the public. The Meeting will also be streamed live at https://www.fcc.gov/live.
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