WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Space Enterprise Council of the United States Chamber of Commerce today welcomed the administration’s new policy for commercial satellite remote sensing.
“We are pleased to have a new policy which reflects the realities of the current global and technological environment,” said Dawn Sienicki, executive director of the Chamber’s Space Enterprise Council. “Now, we must focus on proper implementation of the policy.”
The new policy provides general guidance to U.S. government agencies in balancing the regulation of remote sensing activities with the need for stimulating the industry. Specific objectives include streamlining the licensing process and improving the export system to permit more foreign access to U.S. systems, while protecting national security. Additionally, the policy encourages the development of a sustained public-private partnership, to include more federal procurement of commercial products and services.
The new plan also addresses a number of recommendations outlined by the Space Enterprise Council, including: government-industry relationships, operating licensing and export controls.
“Maintaining the competitive advantage in the global marketplace is critical to our economic and national security,” said Dawn Sienicki. “Our recommendations strike the necessary balance between national security and industry competitiveness.”
Currently, the U.S. commercial industry has two high-resolution remote sensing satellites that provide images sharp enough to count cars parked on a street. The uses for this technology include protecting our homeland, federal, state and local government mapping, forestry and environmental monitoring, insurance and risk management, and disaster assessment, among others.
The Chamber launched the Space Enterprise Council (www.uschamber.com/space) in 2000 to advance the interests of a broad range of space businesses. The United States Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.
