WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is weighing a rule change that would exempt satellite systems from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, a shift that could reshape how the United States regulates the growing number of constellations in low-Earth orbit. The proposal, announced in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in November 2024, would apply to satellite constellations licensed by the FCC, including SpaceX’s Starlink. Currently, the agency requires environmental assessments for satellite launches that could significantly affect the environment.
The exemption would remove that requirement, arguing that satellite reentries are routine and that NEPA reviews create unnecessary delays for expanding broadband access. The Communications Act of 1934 established the FCC as an independent U.S. government agency.
NEPA, signed into law in 1970, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their actions before making decisions. For decades, the FCC has applied that mandate to satellite licensing. Environmental groups have filed comments opposing the exemption.
The Sierra Club and the Union of Concerned Scientists are among those who have submitted objections, citing a 2024 study on aluminum oxide emissions and potential ozone layer damage. Satellite reentries produce aluminum oxide particles as spacecraft burn up in the atmosphere, and researchers have raised concerns about cumulative effects on the stratospheric ozone layer.
The FCC has received over 1,000 public comments as of June 2025. The volume reflects the intensity of the debate over how to balance rapid deployment of satellite broadband with oversight of atmospheric pollution. The agency’s five commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, are expected to vote on the proposal later in 2025.
If approved, the exemption would mark a significant shift in space regulation, potentially accelerating satellite deployments but reducing oversight of atmospheric pollution. For the companies building these constellations, the change could mean faster timelines and lower costs. For environmental advocates, it represents a rollback of protections at a moment when the number of satellites in orbit is growing rapidly.
The FCC has framed the proposal around broadband access, arguing that NEPA reviews delay the expansion of internet connectivity to underserved areas. Critics counter that the environmental costs of those delays are outweighed by the potential harm from unchecked satellite reentries.
The vote later this year will determine whether the United States maintains its current approach to space environmental review or moves toward a lighter regulatory touch for an industry that shows no signs of slowing down.
