H.R. 8255 — SAT Streamlining Act

This section establishes new FCC licensing authority under a new section 346 of the Communications Act of 1934 for covered radiocommunication services (i.e., ITU-defined services excluding radionavigation or designated aeronautical/maritime safety services) involving nongeostationary orbit (NGSO) space stations, geostationary orbit (GSO) space stations, and associated blanket-licensed earth stations. It requires the FCC to issue rules within 12 months amending 47 CFR part 25 to (1) identify modifications to such licenses warranting expedited treatment; (2) establish notification procedures for modification requests; (3) promote public interest through competition, innovation, and spectrum efficiency (accounting for interference-mitigating technologies); and (4) define reportable foreign ownership. It imposes a one-year deadline (from public notice of filing acceptance) for the FCC to determine whether to grant applications—or major amendments thereto—for such NGSO or GSO licenses, subject to specified exceptions. (Thus, this implements shot clocks to expedite satellite communications licensing, distinct from existing processing timelines under part 25.)