Short Takes – 12-23-24 - Federal Register Edition

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Licensing and Coordination Procedures for the Space Launch Service. Federal Register notice. Summary: “In this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) makes proposals and seeks comment on issues related to the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) Space Launch Service. In particular, it proposes licensing and frequency coordination procedures and data requirements for Space Launch Service licensees seeking Commission authorization to perform non-Federal space launch operations in the 2025-2110 MHz, 2200-2290 MHz, and 2360-2395 MHz bands. Filers responding to this Public Notice should submit comments in ET Docket No. 13-115.” Public comments due: January 22^nd, 2025.

Private Sector Participation in Domestic and International Events on Spaceflight Safety, Sustainability, and Emerging Markets in Outer Space. Federal Register State Department notice. Summary: “The U.S. Department of State seeks private sector participation in a series of domestic and international events promoting the safe and responsible exploration and use of outer space…. Solicitations for private sector participation in specific events, including event dates and locations, will be posted at least 30 days prior to the event on https://www.state.gov/​remarks-and-releases-bureau-of-oceans-and-international-environmental-and-scientific-affairs/​.”

Positive Train Control Systems. Federal Register FRA comment period extension. Summary: “On October 28, 2024, FRA published an NPRM proposing to amend certain regulations governing positive train control (PTC) systems. Through oversight and continued engagement with the industry, FRA has found that its existing PTC regulations do not adequately address temporary situations during which PTC technology is not enabled, including after certain initialization failures or in cases where a PTC system needs to be temporarily disabled to facilitate repair, maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, or capital projects. FRA expects PTC systems to be reliable and robust, further reducing the occurrence of initialization failures and outages. The NPRM proposes to establish strict parameters and operating restrictions under which railroads may continue to operate safely in certain necessary scenarios when PTC technology is temporarily not governing rail operations. By this notice, FRA is extending the NPRM's comment period, which will close on December 27, 2024, by 15 days.” New comment due date: “January 11^th, 2025.

Implementation of Certain Australia Group Decisions. BIS final rule. Summary: “The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement changes agreed to by Australia Group (AG) member countries at recent meetings. These include controlling: instruments for the automated chemical synthesis of peptides (automated peptide synthesizers), dipropylamine, and neosaxitoxin; and revising the controls for botulinum toxins, toxic gas monitors, and centrifugal separators. This rule also makes minor conforming changes for the new controls and revisions to existing controls.”