On February 26, 2026, the FCC’s Space Bureau (Bureau) released a Public Notice announcing a one year extension of the temporary expedited processing procedures for earth station applications seeking special temporary authority (STA). The Bureau found good cause for the extension and determined it is in the public interest because the procedures enabled record-level STA processing over the past year despite continued surges in earth station filings driven by growth in the space sector. The Bureau also noted that the temporary procedures are straightforward to administer and that the rationale supporting their initial adoption remains valid. Extending them for another year is necessary to ensure timely processing, prevent backlogs, and maintain efficiency while the Commission considers broader updates to modernize its application processes.
- STA Types Eligible for “Grant Stamp” Expedited Processing:
- 30-day and 60-day STA applications associated with pending regular licenses or modifications, as well as STA extensions, will be processed by grant stamp.
- These STA applications will be eligible for grant stamp when the relevant pending regular/modification application or STA extension application has been placed on the weekly Accepted for Filing Public Notice.
- When an STA is granted, such grant will appear as “granted” in ICFS and will be publicly noted in weekly reports – there will be no stand-alone grant document issued.
2. Expedited Processing for 180-Day STAs Associated with Pending Regular License or Modification Applications:
- For 180-day STA applications linked to pending regular licenses or modifications, the Bureau will place the 180-day STA application and the application for regular authorization on public notice simultaneously, waive the 30 day public notice period, and deem granted these 180-day STA applications at the time they are placed on public notice.
- In order to obtain expedited processing, applicants must clearly identify in both the application for regular authorization and the associated STA that the two filings are associated.
- If an associated regular license application remains pending upon expiration of the 180-day STA, the STA will be automatically renewed upon filing an application for extension of the 180-day STA.
- For any pending license or modification application that has already appeared on the Accepted For Filing Public Notice, applicants may file a 180-day STA application and associate it with the underlying application for regular authorization. These 180-day STA applications will be placed on the Accepted for Filing Public Notice for a shortened period of 7 days and will be eligible to be acted on after that 7-day period expires.
3. Expedited Processing for 180-Day STAs Not Associated with Pending Regular License or Modification Applications:
- For 180-day STA applications not linked to pending regular licenses or modifications, the Bureau shortens the 30 day public notice period to a 7 days public notice period. The STA application will be acted on after the 7-day notice period expires.
4. Independent STA Applications:
- STA Applications not associated with any regular license or modification application will remain subject to the standard public notice procedures.
5. Application Dismissals:
- If a regular license or modification application is dismissed, any associated STA will also be dismissed.
- Applicants are reminded to ensure their applications meet all regulatory requirements to avoid processing delays.
6. Non-Interference Condition:
- All STAs granted under these expedited procedures will be strictly on a non-interference basis, meaning operations must not disrupt existing services in the authorized frequency bands.
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