OMB Approves FCC Space Modernization Final Rule

Yesterday, the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved a final rule from the FCC on “Space Modernization for the 21st Century (SB Docket No. 25.306)”. The final rule was submitted to OIRA on July 27th, 2026. 

According to the 2026 Unified Agenda Entry for this rulemaking:  

“In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to modernize the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process to allow space companies to more freely and successfully compete in the marketplace to serve the American people. In particular, the Notice proposes to develop a licensing assembly line” designed to route applications for efficient review based on specific aspects of a request. It further proposes to change the public notice timelines to allow for faster application processing; proposes reforms to bonds, processing rounds, license terms, and milestones; and substantially updates the earth station licensing regime.” 

With this quick (1 day turnaround) approval of the rulemaking, I would not be surprised to see this final rule published in the Federal Register this week. I do not expect to provide any detailed coverage of this final rule. Under my limited Space Geek coverage, I will at least mention its publication in the appropriate Short Takes post. 

Short Takes – 7-28-26 - Federal Register Edition

Perchloroethylene (PCE) and Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC); Regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Compliance Date Extensions. EPA compliance date extension. Summary: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is finalizing an extension of certain compliance dates applicable to certain entities subject to the risk-management rules for perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA is extending certain Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) compliance dates for non-federal owners and operators to match the existing compliance dates for federal agencies and their contractors. For both PCE and CTC, this action extends the compliance date for initial monitoring for inhalation exposure to June 21, 2027, and extends the compliance date to meet the existing chemical exposure limit (ECEL), establish a regulated area, institute a workplace information and training program, provide any required respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE), and establish a respiratory PPE program to September 20, 2027. For PCE, EPA is also extending the compliance date for federal entities to institute a workplace information and training program to September 20, 2027, and for non-federal entities to establish and implement an exposure control plan to December 20, 2027.” 

Benzene. OSHA comment period reopening. Summary: “OSHA is providing an additional comment period to allow interested persons to comment on OSHA's proposal to revise the Benzene standard. Following consideration of the rulemaking by OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), OSHA is re-opening the record for this rulemaking to provide an additional 30 days for public comment.” 

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Modernization of FMVSS No. 135 To Accommodate ADS-Equipped Vehicles; Extension of Comment Period. NHTSA comment period extension. Summary: “In response to a request from Varnum LLP (Varnum), NHTSA is announcing a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on June 26, 2026 proposing to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135, “Light vehicle brake systems.” The proposed modifications would distinguish how regulations apply to vehicles with and without manually operated driving controls. The comment period for the NPRM was originally scheduled to end on July 27, 2026. It will now end on August 26, 2026.” 

Space Geek  

Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period on the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Starship Reentry Contingency Operations in the Pacific Ocean and Additional Starship Landing Trajectory. FAA Draft Tiered EA comment extension. Summary: “In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), DOT Order 5610.1D, DOT's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, and FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, the FAA is announcing the extension of the comment period on the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Starship Reentry Contingency Operations in the Pacific Ocean and Additional Starship Landing Trajectory (Draft Tiered EA).” 

Name of Information Collection: Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). NASA 30-day ICR revision notice. Summary: “The information submitted by the public is a license application for those companies and individuals who wish to obtain a patent license for a NASA patented technology. Information needed for the license application in ATLAS may include supporting documentation such as a certificate of incorporation, a financial statement, a business and/or commercialization plan, a project revenue/royalty spreadsheet, and a company balance sheet. At a minimum, all license applicants must submit a satisfactory plan for the development and/or marketing of an invention. The collected information is used by NASA to ensure that companies that seek to commercialize NASA technologies have a solid business plan for bringing the technology to market.” 

FCC Sends Space Modernization Final Rule to OMB

Yesterday, the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had received a final rule from the FCC on “Space Modernization for the 21st Century (SB Docket No. 25.306)”. The FCC published the notice of proposed rulemaking on December 5th, 2025. 

According to the 2026 Unified Agenda entry for this rulemaking: 

“In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to modernize the Commission’s space and earth station licensing process to allow space companies to more freely and successfully compete in the marketplace to serve the American people. In particular, the Notice proposes to develop a licensing assembly line” designed to route applications for efficient review based on specific aspects of a request. It further proposes to change the public notice timelines to allow for faster application processing; proposes reforms to bonds, processing rounds, license terms, and milestones; and substantially updates the earth station licensing regime.” 

This comes from the Long-Term Actions portion of the Agenda, which should have indicated that the FCC did not intend to take any action on the rulemaking in the next 12 months. This might explain why the dates provided in the entry for the ANPRM and NPRM were not reflective of the dates such documents were published in the Federal Register; apparently being reflective of publication dates in the FCC’s SB Docket (for example here). 

Short Takes – 7-24-26 - Federal Register Edition

OSHA Comment Extensions  

OSHA published comment extension notices on following notices of proposed rule makings making changes to existing chemical safety standards: 

1, 3-Butadiene, 

1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane, 

13 Carcinogens (4-Nitrobiphenyl, etc.), 

Acrylonitrile, 

Asbestos,  

Cadmium, 

Ethylene Oxide,  

Formaldehyde, 

Inorganic Arsenic (1),  

Inorganic Arsenic (2), 

Lead,  

Methylene Chloride,  

Methylenedianiline,  

Vinyl Chloride. 

Space Geek Notice  

Agency Advisory Circular: AC 413.13-1A Guidance on Submitting an Application for a Part 450 Vehicle Operator License. FAA notice of availability. Summary: “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comments on its revised draft advisory circular (AC) for the Guidance on Submitting an Application for a Part 450 Vehicle Operator License. This revised AC provides guidance on demonstrating compliance with the requirements of a license application in accordance with §§ 413.11 and 413.13 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). It details the criteria for submitting an application and the FAA's evaluation of the application for a license determination under 14 CFR part 450.”