AIA CEO Says COMSAT Export Control Reform will boost industry.
Press Release Summary:
In her statement on implementation of reforms to export control restrictions on commercial satellites and related components, AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey welcomed change of export control treatment. She said this legislative and regulatory reform will ensure U.S. space industrial base can compete in global markets and grow U.S. economy. Satellite exports were cited as essential to ensuring robust industry able to support U.S. defense needs and offset impacts of DOD spending cuts.
Original Press Release:
AIA: COMSATs Export Control Reform Boosts Industry
Statement by Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Marion C. Blakey on the implementation of reforms to export control restrictions on commercial satellites and related components
Arlington, Va. — AIA welcomes the change, effective today, of the export control treatment of commercial satellites and related components. This important legislative and regulatory reform will ensure the U.S. space industrial base is able to compete in global markets for years to come and continue to grow the U.S. economy. Satellite exports are more essential than ever to ensure a robust industry that is able to support U.S. defense needs and offset the harmful impacts of cuts to DOD spending under the 2011 Budget Control Act by increasing our commercial market share.
For more than 15 years, commercial communications satellites have been classified as military technology even though the rest of the world has deemed them commercial or dual-use items. This military classification heavily restricted the export of commercial communications satellites and related components, causing U.S. industry to lose critical market share to foreign competitors and forcing some small companies out of the market to the detriment of this important industry base sector.
In 2012, Congress made important legislative changes that restored discretion to the Administration on export control treatment of commercial satellites and related components. Effective today, commercial satellites and related components will be more appropriately and safely controlled for export on the Commerce Control List under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Industry and Security, which continues to provide U.S. government oversight in conjunction with the Department of Defense.
We applaud this change in support of the U.S. commercial satellite industry. We look forward to future initiatives from Congress and the administration to enhance the global competitiveness of the U.S. aerospace and defense industry.
CONTACT:Â Dan Stohr
(703) 358-1078 office
(703) 517-8173 mobile
dan.stohr@aia-aerospace.org
-AIA-
Founded in 1919 shortly after the birth of flight, the Aerospace Industries Association is the most authoritative and influential trade association representing the nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft systems, space systems, aircraft engines, homeland and cybersecurity systems, materiel and related components, equipment services and information technology.
