US space startups can face oversight from up to seven agencies

TL;DR: Former US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Michael O'Rielly said space startups in the United States may need to answer to as many as seven federal agencies, with no single agency in charge, according to remarks reported by Light Reading from the Aspen Forum.

Former FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly said at the Aspen Forum that a US space startup can answer to as many as seven federal agencies and that no single agency is in charge. Light Reading reported that the agencies involved can include the FCC, the US Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and possibly NASA.

The reported comments describe a fragmented US regulatory structure for space activity. In the example cited by Light Reading, multiple agencies can have a role in oversight, but none serves as the single lead regulator across the full process.

Light Reading attributed the remarks to O'Rielly's appearance at the Aspen Forum. The source excerpt identifies the FCC, Commerce, NOAA, the FAA, and possibly NASA as agencies that may have a say in space regulation in the United States.

Related questions

• Which US agencies did Michael O'Rielly say may oversee space startups?
• What did Michael O'Rielly say about who is in charge of US space regulation?
• Where were O'Rielly's comments on US space regulation reported?