The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether private satellite tracking systems should qualify as recognized channels for sharing orbital data. Its space modernization consultation, published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2026, sets November 25 for comments and December 28 for replies.
The proposal would let the FCC’s Space Bureau certify qualifying private systems. Operators could then choose among approved providers to meet orbital-data sharing requirements. The commission also asks whether a single designated destination would simplify participation.
Orbital data supports space situational awareness, which combines information about objects’ positions and movements with knowledge of the surrounding space environment. Radar and optical observations help characterize spacecraft and debris. Processing those observations supports assessments of potential close approaches.
Ephemeris data describes an object’s position over time. Sharing it allows other operators and service providers to incorporate the spacecraft’s expected movements into their own assessments. A common destination and multiple recognized destinations offer different ways to organize that exchange.
Provider Qualification and Data Access
The FCC seeks views on certification criteria and whether certified providers should make ephemeris information freely available to satellite operators. It also asks about reporting more frequently than the eight-hour interval encouraged in its associated order, particularly for servicing and close-proximity operations.
Additional questions concern standardized safety reports covering disposal failures, maneuvering problems, debris releases, and end-of-life activities. These proposals address what operators report as well as where they submit information.
The underlying further notice was adopted July 22 and released July 23, 2026. October’s publication establishes the response deadlines; certification remains under consideration.
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