4 ms·

It's still weird that the FCC is the responsible US agency, which was discussed here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16555810 https://news.ycombinator.co

It's still weird that the FCC is the responsible US agency, which was discussed here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16555810 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16555810

JumpCrisscross 9y ago
> It's still weird that the FCC is the responsible US agency, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)"is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN)" that "coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards" [1]. If a single agency is to interface with the ITU, it makes sense for it to be the FCC. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunication_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunicatio...
- jessriedel 9y ago
  > If a single agency is to interface with the ITU, it makes sense for it to be the FCC. I don't see any reason for it to be a single agency. Not knowing anything about the details, I wouldn't think the FCC would be able to support the space-fairing expertise to properly regulate space debris given the dramatic increase in satellite density expected in the coming decades. New agencies get created all the time to deal with new regulatory fields that outgrow their initial home. Needless to say, the UN is not a good lead to follow with respect to nimble regulatory structure.
  - Angostura 9y ago
    > Needless to say, the UN is not a good lead to follow with respect to nimble regulatory structure. I'm sure the world is waiting agog for your proposals for an alternative international body able to coordinate communication satellite frequencies and orbits across all nations.
bsder 9y ago
You would rather it be the Air Force perhaps? I can't imagine that being an improvement on any axis ...
- nostromo 9y ago
  NASA or the FAA would seem a more obvious choice for regulating space debris than the FCC.
  - planteen 9y ago
    Sure, it would seem more obvious, but that's the federal government. Why are the NPS and BLM under the DOI but USFS is under the USDA? Tons of USFS land borders NPS and BLM so it seems like one department in charge would make sense...
    - chiefalchemist 9y ago
      I'm going to guess NASA didn't want it or wasn't trusted to do so. They're rocket scientists, not trash men / women. The FAA does planes. It's like - I'm guessing - the FCC got it because the first non-gov satellites were for comms. It's not likely the Luddites in Washington DC would have anticipated the situations we have today.
      - gnode 9y ago
        > The FAA does planes. They also oversee the launch and reentry of space vehicles, amongst numerous other roles. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/about/ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/as...
        chiefalchemist 9y ago
        But when did that role begin?
    - dragonwriter 9y ago

It's still weird that the FCC is the responsible US agency, which was discussed here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16555810 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16555810

JumpCrisscross 9y ago

> It's still weird that the FCC is the responsible US agency, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)"is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN)" that "coordinates the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and assists in the development and coordination of worldwide technical standards" [1]. If a single agency is to interface with the ITU, it makes sense for it to be the FCC. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunication_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunicatio...

jessriedel 9y ago
> If a single agency is to interface with the ITU, it makes sense for it to be the FCC. I don't see any reason for it to be a single agency. Not knowing anything about the details, I wouldn't think the FCC would be able to support the space-fairing expertise to properly regulate space debris given the dramatic increase in satellite density expected in the coming decades. New agencies get created all the time to deal with new regulatory fields that outgrow their initial home. Needless to say, the UN is not a good lead to follow with respect to nimble regulatory structure.
- Angostura 9y ago
  > Needless to say, the UN is not a good lead to follow with respect to nimble regulatory structure. I'm sure the world is waiting agog for your proposals for an alternative international body able to coordinate communication satellite frequencies and orbits across all nations.

bsder 9y ago

You would rather it be the Air Force perhaps? I can't imagine that being an improvement on any axis ...

nostromo 9y ago
NASA or the FAA would seem a more obvious choice for regulating space debris than the FCC.
- planteen 9y ago
  Sure, it would seem more obvious, but that's the federal government. Why are the NPS and BLM under the DOI but USFS is under the USDA? Tons of USFS land borders NPS and BLM so it seems like one department in charge would make sense...
  - chiefalchemist 9y ago
    I'm going to guess NASA didn't want it or wasn't trusted to do so. They're rocket scientists, not trash men / women. The FAA does planes. It's like - I'm guessing - the FCC got it because the first non-gov satellites were for comms. It's not likely the Luddites in Washington DC would have anticipated the situations we have today.
    - gnode 9y ago
      > The FAA does planes. They also oversee the launch and reentry of space vehicles, amongst numerous other roles. https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/about/ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/as...
      - chiefalchemist 9y ago
        But when did that role begin?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago