Sep 23: 119SRES-863 "A resolution expressing suppor..." agreed to in Senate      Sep 23: 119S-1363 "New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes..." agreed to in Senate      Sep 23: 119S-1962 "Secure Space Act of 2026" agreed to in Senate      Sep 23: 119S-3404 "Satellite Cybersecurity Act of..." agreed to in Senate      Sep 23: 119SRES-894 "A resolution designating Septe..." agreed to in Senate      
Bill: 119-S1962
Secure Space Act of 2026
Last action: 9-23-2026
Version: 2026012515
Current status: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Bill is currently in: Senate
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Summary Provided by Congressional Research Service

Secure Space Act of 2025

This bill prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or earth station authorizations, including U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellites, to specified foreign entities of concern and their affiliates. (Earth stations, also commonly known as ground stations, are earth-based radio stations that communicate with satellites. A grant of U.S. market access permits one or more foreign-licensed satellites to communicate with one or more U.S.-licensed earth stations.)

Specifically, the FCC may not grant a satellite license, an earth station authorization, or market access to any entity, or an affiliate thereof, that produces or provides communications equipment or services deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. (The FCC maintains a list of such equipment and services, known as the Covered List. Providers of such equipment and services include, for example, Huawei Technologies Company and ZTE Corporation.) 

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1. Short title2. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Secure Space Act of 2026".

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:

10. Prohibition on grant of certain satellite licenses, United States market access, or earth station authorizations

(a) Definitions - In this section:

(1) Affiliate -

(A) In general - The term "affiliate" means an entity that (directly or indirectly) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, another entity.

(B) Own - For purposes of this paragraph, the term "own" means to have, possess, or otherwise control an equity interest (or the equivalent thereof) of not less than 10 percent.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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) Prohibition - 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 the license, grant of market access, or authorization would be held or controlled by—

(1) an entity identified on the list published by the Commission under section 2(a); or

(2) an affiliate of an entity described in paragraph (1).

(c) Further consideration for secured networks -

(1) In general - The Commission may issue a report assessing supply chain security risks associated with any earth station licensee, geostationary orbit satellite system licensee, nongeostationary orbit satellite system licensee, or entity granted a declaratory ruling to access the United States market using a geostationary orbit satellite system or nongeostationary orbit satellite system, or an affiliate of such a licensee or entity, that provides communications equipment designed, developed, manufactured, or assembled by an entity identified on the list published by the Commission under section 2(a).

(2) Rule of construction - Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to expand or contract the authority of the Commission.

(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 enactment of this Act.

(c) Rules - Not later than 1 year after the date of 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 Senate September 23, 2026.Secretary