AIA WANTS SATELLITE, IMAGING CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS

Spectrum allocation, regulations on space imaging and expediting process for satellite export controls are 3 main issues on tap for Aerospace Industries Assn. (AIA), Bruce Mahome, AIA dir.-space policy, said Mon. after news briefing in Washington on declining R&D federal budget for aerospace research. AIA has been working “to reassure [FCC International Bureau] that it should continue to back the industry,” said David Logsdon, AIA mgr.-space operations, and “put money into [R&D] efforts.” “Some people in the FCC are nervous the satellite industry can deliver workable systems after problems with Iridium and Globalstar” and satellite phones, he said.

Mahome said industry needed expedited export control process for U.S. allies. Efforts to punish countries such as China “punish allies and our companies,” he said. He endorsed bill being worked on by Rep. Berman (D-Cal.) to return satellite export controls to Commerce Dept. from State Dept., saying bill “would make it very easy” to export satellites and components to allies and “make it very difficult to export to any suspect country.” Currently, “we can’t even get things to Canada,” Mahome said. He urged 3 tiers of improvements for system: (1) Speed up process at State with streamlined process to allies. (2) Move process back to Commerce. (3) Get whole new export control regime “that considers the current world, not the Cold War.” However, Mahome said, 3rd possibility “is about as likely as getting a flat tax.”

Addressing concerns of all sides is more important than speed in getting Berman bill to floor, Mahome said. “We're not in any hurry to get it on the floor. We want them to get the bugs worked out.”