Washington, D.C. February 7, 2012 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) testified today on the need to reform current U.S. export control policies for the satellite sector before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs on “Export Controls, Arms Sales, and Reform: Balancing Interests, Part II.” SIA President Patricia Cooper served as SIA’s witness on the industry panel on the full committee hearing.

In SIA’s testimony, Ms. Cooper asked that Congress, “restore the Executive Branch’s authority to regulate satellites, as they do every other U.S. technology.” She concluded by saying, “As a high-tech growth industry that provides critical support for our nation’s defense industry and drives innovation and investment, we urge Congress to reform U.S. export controls for satellites and related items to secure the United States’ future as a leading space-faring nation.”

SIA has been a vocal advocate of reform of 1998 legislation that required all commercial satellites, satellite components, associated technical data, and related ground equipment to be treated as “munitions” for export licensing purposes, regardless of their technical sensitivity. SIA believes that these rules have undermined both the nation’s security and the industry’s competitiveness. SIA has consistently supported efforts by the Administration and Congress to enhance and strengthen the overall export regime and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on U.S. industry, creating a more effective, predictable, and transparent export control regime. SIA has also strongly supported export controls that protect technology vital to U.S. national security.

SIA takes positions when the satellite industry holds a common view on policy, regulatory and legislative issues that affect our sector. SIA’s full testimony can be found at www.sia.org. In addition, full information regarding the hearing is available at: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1399.

ABOUT THE SATELLITE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION:

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing worldwide representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. Since its creation in 1995, SIA has become the unified voice of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. SIA Executive Members include: Artel, Inc.; The Boeing Company; The DIRECTV Group; EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C.; Harris CapRock Communications; Hughes Network Systems, LLC; Integral Systems, Inc.; Intelsat, Ltd.; Iridium Communications Inc.; LightSquared; Lockheed Martin Corporation.; Loral Space & Communications, Inc.; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Rockwell Collins Government Systems; and SES. SIA Associate Members include: ATK Inc.; Cisco; Cobham SATCOM Land Systems; Comtech EF Data Corp.; DRS Technologies, Inc.; Eutelsat, Inc.; GE Satellite; Globecomm Systems, Inc.; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; iDirect Government Technologies; Inmarsat, Inc.; Marshall Communications Corporation.; Orbital Sciences Corporation; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Spacecom, Ltd.; Spacenet Inc.; TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.; Telesat Canada; Trace Systems, Inc.; Ultisat, Inc.; ViaSat, Inc.; and XTAR.

Additional information about SIA can be found at www.sia.org.