S. 1962 Passed the Senate Science, Technology, Communications

Secure Space Act of 2026

A bill to amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from granting a license or United States market access for 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 an entity that produces or provides any covered communications equipment or service or an affiliate of such an entity, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] Introduced June 5, 2025 Cosponsors 1 (1 D) Latest action September 24, 2026

Summary

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.) 

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Sep 24, 2026 Held at the desk.
  2. Sep 24, 2026 Received in the House.
  3. Sep 24, 2026 Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  4. Sep 23, 2026 Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4956; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S4956)
  5. Sep 14, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 557.
  6. Sep 14, 2026 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 119-138.
  7. Apr 14, 2026 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  8. Jun 5, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  9. Jun 5, 2025 Introduced in Senate

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