Washington, D.C., May 23, 2013 (SAI PR) — The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) applauded the publication today of draft rules to reform the export controls for satellites and related items. The Departments of State and Commerce published draft regulations that would result in the transfer of commercial communications satellites and associated parts, components, and ground equipment from the more restrictive U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List. The publication of these draft rules represents the first step by the Administration toward fully implementing the provisions to reform satellite export controls contained in the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act that was passed by Congress in December 2012 and signed by President Obama in January 2013.
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“Satellite Industry Association”
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
In a move praised by industry groups, a report issued by the Departments of State and Defense has recommended removing hundreds of thousands of items that are now part of the U.S. Munitions List, a designation that makes them difficult or impossible to export. Included among the items to be removed from the list are commercial communications satellites and their components, and some remote sensing satellites not considered militarily sensitive.
“Today’s release of the Defense Department assessment of the implications of normalizing export controls on satellites and related components gives decision makers in Congress crucial information on how reform can strengthen both our national security and space industrial base,” said Aerospace Industries President and CEO Marion C. Blakey in a statement.