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Comment in FCC Stakeholder Reactions Release
| The following comment was published on September 29, 2026, in the Federal Communications Commission media release from the Office of Chairman Brendan Carr, “What They Are Saying: Stakeholders Support NEPA Reform — FCC Permitting Reforms to Cut Billions of Dollars’ Worth of Red Tape.” |
Context
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2026—The Federal Communications Commission will vote on Wednesday on permitting reforms to modernize the agency’s approach to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and cut billions of dollars’ worth of red tape.
The Order overhauls the FCC’s approach to NEPA. This is a move that is expected to cut billions of dollars in red tape while accelerating infrastructure builds. The decision will also clarify that bureaucratic NEPA reviews have no place across a range of innovative space-based activities regulated by the FCC. The Commission will also seek additional feedback on reforming the FCC’s historic preservation rules. Stakeholders across the board are applauding the action.
Comment
The Mercatus Center’s Aakrith Harikumar, Research Fellow: “These reforms clarify the scope of the FCC's environmental review in commercial space activities. Clearer jurisdictional boundaries can make regulation more predictable and keep regulatory responsibility with the agencies that oversee those activities, while allowing environmental and safety concerns to be addressed by the authorities responsible for them. Just because the FCC has the power to authorize spectrum use, it doesn't mean that the FCC is responsible for the launch, deployment, and operation of a private operator's satellite.”
Read the full FCC media communication.