The USA’s telecoms regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), last week announced plans to split its International Bureau into two new divisions, the Space Bureau and the Office of International Affairs. This recognized the growing importance of satellite services within mainstream telecoms. Space affairs had previously been handled within its own sub-division of its International Bureau. FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel made the announcement on November 3, citing the explosive growth of the satellite industry, and resulting workloads, exemplified by operating licence applications for an additional 64 000 satellites over the past two years. Rosenworcel also emphasizedthe need to streamline resource allocation to fulfill “statutory obligations and better support the satellite industry. More broadly, the creation of the Space Bureau signals…