The Aerospace Industries Association once again criticized export controls on sensitive technologies that might have military applications, saying those controls harm the space industrial base.
AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey made her comments in written testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee terrorism, nonproliferation and trade subcommittee.
“Without meaningful steps to modernize the U.S. export control system and enhance space trade among our allies, the United States faces a real and daunting possibility of losing our leadership in space and ability to compete in the global space industry,” Blakey said.
U.S. market share for commercial satellites dropped from 73 percent to 27 percent after legislation passed in 1998 to control commercial satellites as military items. The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports that the United States is the only country that requires stringent and time-consuming reviews and approval processes for exports of commercial communications satellites and related components, according to AIA.
The industry group recommends that the government review all space technologies to determine which ones should be controlled as commercial or military items. The review should be coupled with legislation that allows the administration flexibility to differentiate between sensitive commercial satellite technologies and truly commercial components.
“During his campaign President Obama pledged a thorough review of our export control system,” said Blakey. “We are looking forward to working with the administration to restore the competiveness of the U.S. satellite industry.”
Full text of Blakey’s remarks and her written testimony can be found at http://www.aia- aerospace.org/newsroom/speeches_testimony/ on the Web.