FCC Sends Space Operations NPRM to OMB

On Thursday, the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had received a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) from the FCC on “Operation of Part 15 Devices in Space (ET Docket 25-XXX)”. 

This rulemaking was not listed the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda, and the ‘XXX’ docket number would seem to indicate that there is not a current FCC docket number either. The ‘Part 15’ references electronic transmission devices covered under 47 CFR Part 15, devices that “may be operated without an individual license.” {§ 15.1(a)} I would suspect that the NPRM would address any additional requirements for such devices in space operations. 

I do not expect to cover this rulemaking in any detail, but under my limited Space Geek coverage, I would expect to announce its publication in the appropriate Short Takes post.