In case you missed it, last week, National Interest published a piece from Consumer Choice Center’s (CCC) head of emerging technology policy, James Czerniawski, showcasing “possibilities of human life to be improved by space technology” and emphasizing the need for policy modernization to advance space-based technologies.

On the heels of America’s first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years, the potential for America’s position at the forefront in the new space race has never been stronger. However, there remains work to be done in space and progress to be made on Earth if the U.S. wants to keep momentum ahead of our competitors.

From the piece:

“Exploration beyond the moon is exciting, but the key for policymakers is to make space technology as beneficial to everyday Americans as possible, and that’s as simple as providing a stronger Wi-Fi connection. … Millions of Americans remain cut off from reliable broadband, including rural families, young workers in smaller towns competing in a remote work economy, and patients seeking telehealth services in areas where a specialist’s office is hours away. Connectivity matters, and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services, such as Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, represent the most credible path to closing that gap.”

Innovative internet offerings and 21^st-century space-based technologies can help finally and fully close the digital divide, but “an ocean of red tape governs how LEO satellites can be licensed and deployed within a given period, compounded by regulatory frameworks written for an entirely different era of spaceflight.”

Cutting outdated red tape and modernizing technology regulations is crucial for revolutionizing space-based solutions because “advancing these types of policies will unleash competition, lower prices, and keep America leading the new space race.”  

Read the full op-ed here and learn more about the CEC here.