WASHINGTON, D.C.—The industry’s first U.S. space law and regulation training and certification program designed specifically for startups launched today in partnership with the Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) New Mexico Tech Engagement Office.
The program, created by Washington, D.C.-based organization Association of Commercial Space Professionals (ACSP), whose mission is to provide companies with affordable regulatory and legal resources, will offer its inaugural Space Regulatory Bootcamp February 21-23 at space/aerospace business incubator Q Station. The bootcamp, which will be held virtually and in person, is designed for C-suite and legal professionals learning about space regulation for the very first time, as well as those already supporting space industry startups who want to advance their knowledge.
The complexity of U.S. space law and regulation is due not only to the sheer volume and type of activities regulated, but also because these activities are managed and enforced across a minimum of five government agencies:
● Federal Aviation Administration (launches, reentries)
● National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (remote sensing)
● Department of State (export controls)
● Department of Commerce (export controls)
● Federal Communications Commission (telecommunications, frequency allocations)
Historically, high-caliber counsel specializing in international space law and regulation has been the domain of large law firms, making it accessible only to sizable aerospace defense organizations that can afford to retain counsel ongoing. Vulnerable startups generally lack the resources—particularly in the earliest stages of their corporate lifecycle—to secure this level of support and specialized expertise. Many may not have legal counsel at all, and those who do often retain counsel more generalist in nature, to work across every aspect of their business.
The Space Regulatory Bootcamp curriculum was built with the unique needs of these startups in mind. Curriculum is leveled to quickly and effectively train startup CEOs, senior executive leadership, and legal counsel with little to no preliminary knowledge of space regulation. Further, because the regulatory environment is continuously changing, it can also add value for current space industry lawyers, connecting them to key resources and saving hours of research.
Training focuses on several key areas as they pertain to space startups: regulatory licensing requirements, startup fundraising, commercial and government contracting requirements, and intellectual property. Experts in space regulation will provide the training, which includes sessions such as:
● International Traffic in Arms Regulations
● Export Administration Regulations
● Spectrum Management
● FCC Licensing
● Ground Station Services & FCC Alternatives
● NOAA Regulations & Policy Updates
● Cybersecurity
● CFIUS & Foreign Investments
● Intellectual Property
Inaugural participants will be eligible at no additional cost to take an online exam in March 2023 to obtain their Commercial Space Regulatory Professional Certification, accrediting their space regulation credentials.
