Satellite Communications Engineering: ITAR, FCC Licensing, and Space Segment Compliance

Satellite communications engineering sits at the intersection of three regulatory frameworks: ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 CFR Parts 120-130), which controls spacecraft and related articles under Category XV and XV(f); FCC Part 25, which licenses earth stations and space stations operating in the US; and ITU Radio Regulations, which govern frequency coordination and EPFD (Equivalent Power Flux Density) limits for LEO constellation operators. The practical consequence for engineering teams is that routine technical work — sharing documentation, collaborating with foreign engineers, procuring components — requires prior authorisation or licence unless a specific exemption applies. Ground station security requirements, which must satisfy both FCC licence conditions and ITAR security controls for classified satellite systems, add a facility-level compliance layer.

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