Satellite Industry Association

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is the primary trade association and advocacy organization representing the U.S. commercial satellite industry, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. SIA's membership spans the full commercial space value chain: satellite operators (SpaceX Starlink, SES, Intelsat, Viasat, Hughes), satellite manufacturers (Boeing Satellite Systems, Maxar, Airbus OneWeb Satellites), launch providers (SpaceX, Rocket Lab, ULA), and ground equipment manufacturers — collectively representing companies generating tens of billions in annual revenue.

SIA's core function is regulatory advocacy before the FCC, FCC, NTIA, FAA, and NASA: fighting spectrum encroachment threats against GPS L-band guard bands (the LightSquared/Ligado controversy), advocating for expedited Part 25 satellite licensing processes to accommodate the pace of LEO constellation deployment, pushing for ITAR/EAR export control reform to prevent U.S. satellite component suppliers from losing market share to European competitors, and engaging in ITU World Radiocommunication Conference proceedings to protect U.S.-licensed orbital positions and frequency allocations. SIA has been a leading voice on orbital debris mitigation rules — supporting the FCC's 5-year deorbit requirement while opposing regulations that would impose asymmetric burdens on U.S. operators.

The annual State of the Satellite Industry Report, co-produced with Quilty Space, provides the authoritative benchmark for global satellite revenue tracking — consistently cited by investors, policymakers, and media covering the approximately $300B+ satellite ecosystem. SIA also co-organizes the SATELLITE Conference in Washington D.C., drawing 10,000+ attendees annually as the industry's largest gathering.

SIA competes for influence with the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (launch/crewed focus), the Space Foundation (broader space policy), and the Aerospace Industries Association (defense primes). SIA's strength is its satellite-specific depth and long institutional relationships at the FCC and ITU.