OAI staff were fortunate to have supported U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s effort to reform satellite export regulations. “We are very excited to see these reforms, they are an important first step in enabling the United States to effectively compete in the global space marketplace.”, said Stanley O. Kennedy, Jr., president of OAI; “ITAR / Export Control reform benefits the U.S. aerospace industry writ large; and, is critical to small, innovative companies like Oakman Aerospace, Inc. as it will alleviate some of the administrative burden and allow us to focus on rapid and responsive space solutions to our customers’ needs.”
Below is the official press release from Senator Bennet regarding the Export Regulation changes.
– The U.S. Departments of Commerce and State today published final changes to regulations that control the exports of satellites and related items. The new rules were prompted by a bill written by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and will help place Colorado aerospace companies on more equal footing with their international competitors.
“This is welcome news for Colorado’s booming aerospace sector,” “Although a long time coming, these new rules will help our firms remain competitive with their global competitors by reforming outdated restrictions that had previously hampered their efforts to export satellites, while still protecting our national security interests.”
“Our work doesn’t end here,” “With the help of Colorado’s business community, we must continually reexamine the regulations that control our export practices to make sure they’re appropriate for the ever-changing global market.”
“For the many American businesses that compete in this key technology sector, today’s action means a stronger United States defense industrial base, the ability to focus the government’s limited resources on the technologies and destinations of greatest concern, an increase in the competitiveness of the U.S. satellite industry, and a reduction in the licensing burden on U.S. exporters,”
Bennet’s bill to give the Administration the discretion to transfer certain less sensitive satellites and satellite components from the more restrictive U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List was included in the . The bill was based on recommendations from a joint on satellite export controls by the Departments of Defense and State.
Before these reforms, the Administration did not have the authority to determine the appropriate export controls for satellites and space-related items. Instead, they were controlled as defense articles under International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), even if they had civilian applications and were available commercially abroad. This put U.S. manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage in the global market.
The view the published rules by the State Department, click .
To view the published rules by the Commerce Department, click .
