WASHINGTON, July 7 — The Federal Communications Commission is considering a rule change that would exempt satellite constellations operating below 600 kilometers altitude from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, a move that has drawn responses from environmental groups and some scientists. The proposal, put forward in April 2025, would effectively remove a layer of federal oversight for companies like SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and OneWeb as they seek to deploy new satellites.
The FCC argues that such reviews are unnecessary because the satellites are designed to burn up completely and pose no ground-level hazard. Environmental groups and some scientists counter that NEPA reviews are precisely the mechanism needed to study atmospheric effects before granting licenses for thousands of satellites.
The FCC’s current licensing process for Starlink has already approved over 12,000 satellites for deployment. The proposed exemption would apply to all future applications from SpaceX and other operators. The public comment period on the proposal ends in July 2025.
The FCC has not yet scheduled a vote on the measure.
What the exemption would mean
Under current rules, any major federal action that could significantly affect the environment requires a NEPA review. For satellite constellations, this has meant the FCC must consider potential environmental impacts before granting licenses. The FCC’s proposed exemption rests on a technical argument: satellites operating below 600 kilometers are in low enough orbits that atmospheric drag will pull them down relatively quickly, and they are designed to burn up completely.
The commission contends this eliminates any risk of ground impact, making environmental review unnecessary. Critics say this misses the point.
The environmental question, they argue, is not whether satellites hit the ground but what happens when thousands of them burn up in the atmosphere each year. Metals and other materials vaporized during re-entry could accumulate in the upper atmosphere, with unknown consequences for climate and the ozone layer. The exemption would cover not just current applications but future ones as well, creating a streamlined path for the rapid expansion of low-Earth orbit networks.
Who is watching
SpaceX’s Starlink network is the most visible player in this space, with thousands of satellites already in orbit and many more planned. Amazon’s Project Kuiper and OneWeb are also building large constellations, and the proposed exemption would apply equally to all applicants. Environmental groups have been vocal in their opposition, arguing that the FCC is moving too quickly without adequate study.
Some scientists have echoed these concerns, noting that the atmospheric effects of large satellite constellations are not well understood. The public comment period gives interested parties a chance to weigh in before the FCC makes a final decision.
No vote has been scheduled, and the timeline remains unclear.
