On February 18, 2025 [at 9:30 am Eastern], the International Telecommunications Society is hosting Satellite Technology and the Future of Space Regulation. This webinar is free and will feature Professor Rob Frieden of Penn State University Law.
Last year, I wrote about cellular and satellite convergence, as low earth orbit companies like AST-Space Mobile and SpaceX Starlink began offering direct-to-cellular device connectivity, bridging gaps in coverage in remote and rural areas.
What is the legal framework to govern activities beyond traditional national borders?
How do we navigate complex, and sometimes conflicting, international treaties and national space regulations? Are there jurisdictional gaps and inconsistent space policies across countries that demand resolution?
Space-based technologies involve billions of dollars of capital investment. As operations expand around the globe, the private sector is already taking significant technology risks. With an opportunity to offer connectivity with satellite and other non-terrestrial communications technologies in rural and remote areas, operators of these systems need more regulatory certainty. What standards should guide behavior in space? What agency (and under what authority) will enforce these standards? How should the global community respond to non-compliant states or rogue actors in the private sector?
The February 18 webinar will attempt to address these questions. Professor Frieden will discuss the major international treaties shaping space law: from space safety and debris management to liability in space, along with other jurisdictional issues. The session aims to explore the interaction between these treaties and domestic policies, looking at the challenges for private sector entities and governments in the satellite communications space.
The objective is to identify strategies for regulating space, driving increased certainty, as we technology ventures toward the stars.
I look forward to seeing you online February 18, at 9:30am (Eastern).