> It has nothing to say whatsoever about whether the satellite can be there in orbit. I'm not an expert in space law, but I did work in the space industry for

> It has nothing to say whatsoever about whether the satellite can be there in orbit. I'm not an expert in space law, but I did work in the space industry for a while. A few things: The US government in general does have a say in whether certain technology can be in orbit. If you are making an Earth observing satellite, for instance, you need to get a permit. If my memory serves me right, I think it is the Department of Commerce. If you want to point above a certain accuracy, image above a certain resolution, etc. you are controlled by ITAR. Export that to India or discuss the technology with a non-US person? You are personally liable and can go to jail. That gets nailed in your head during ITAR training. There's nothing new about the FCC asking for orbital debris mitigation reports. It has been this way for at least a decade. And the ITU has regulated geo for a long time. I believe they defer to national agencies, which in this case is the FCC.