U.S. satellite exports move to Commerce Control List

   The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security on Tuesday published regulations that will change the way U.S. export controls are applied to most commercial, scientific, and civil satellites and their parts and components.
   Together with a companion rule issued by the Department of State, the action moves the items from Category XV of the State Department’s U.S. Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List.
   The regulatory move is an “extraordinary success story” according to Commerce undersecretary Eric L. Hirschhorn.  
   “For the many American businesses that compete in this key technology sector, it 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,” he said in a statement.
   Items moving to Commerce jurisdiction include communications satellites that do not contain classified components; certain remote sensing satellites; spacecraft parts, components, accessories, attachments, equipment, or systems that are not specifically identified in the revised category; and all radiation-hardened microelectronic microcircuits.
   In many instances, BIS said the the updated regulations allow the commercial, scientific and civil satellites transferred to Commerce jurisdiction to incorporate parts and components listed on the USML and remain under Commerce licensing authority.
   BIS noted the changes to the controls on radiation-hardened microelectronic microcircuits take effect 45 days after publication of the rule, while the remainder of the changes take effect 180 days after publication.
   For more details about upcoming export control regulatory changes, read the March issue American Shipper story, “Keeping a grip on export reform,” pages 8-12.