
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-391 Section 204]
[CITE: 42USC14711]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
 CHAPTER 141--COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
 
        SUBCHAPTER I--PROMOTION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES
 
Sec. 14711. Commercialization of Space Station


(a) Policy

    The Congress declares that a priority goal of constructing the 
International Space Station is the economic development of Earth orbital 
space. The Congress further declares that free and competitive markets 
create the most efficient conditions for promoting economic development, 
and should therefore govern the economic development of Earth orbital 
space. The Congress further declares that the use of free market 
principles in operating, servicing, allocating the use of, and adding 
capabilities to the Space Station, and the resulting fullest possible 
engagement of commercial providers and participation of commercial 
users, will reduce Space Station operational costs for all partners and 
the Federal Government's share of the United States burden to fund 
operations.

(b) Reports

    (1) The Administrator shall deliver to the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, within 90 days after October 28, 1998, a 
study that identifies and examines--
        (A) the opportunities for commercial providers to play a role in 
    International Space Station activities, including operation, use, 
    servicing, and augmentation;
        (B) the potential cost savings to be derived from commercial 
    providers playing a role in each of these activities;
        (C) which of the opportunities described in subparagraph (A) the 
    Administrator plans to make available to commercial providers in 
    fiscal years 1999 and 2000;
        (D) the specific policies and initiatives the Administrator is 
    advancing to encourage and facilitate these commercial 
    opportunities; and
        (E) the revenues and cost reimbursements to the Federal 
    Government from commercial users of the Space Station.

    (2) The Administrator shall deliver to the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, within 180 days after October 28, 1998, an 
independently conducted market study that examines and evaluates 
potential industry interest in providing commercial goods and services 
for the operation, servicing, and augmentation of the International 
Space Station, and in the commercial use of the International Space 
Station. This study shall also include updates to the cost savings and 
revenue estimates made in the study described in paragraph (1) based on 
the external market assessment.
    (3) The Administrator shall deliver to the Congress, no later than 
the submission of the President's annual budget request for fiscal year 
2000, a report detailing how many proposals (whether solicited or not) 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration received during 
calendar years 1997 and 1998 regarding commercial operation, servicing, 
utilization, or augmentation of the International Space Station, broken 
down by each of these four categories, and specifying how many 
agreements the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has entered 
into in response to these proposals, also broken down by these four 
categories.
    (4) Each of the studies and reports required by paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3) shall include consideration of the potential role of State 
governments as brokers in promoting commercial participation in the 
International Space Station program.

(Pub. L. 105-303, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2845.)


       Space Station Commercial Development Demonstration Program

    Pub. L. 106-74, title IV, Sec. 434, Oct. 20, 1999, 113 Stat. 1097, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a 
demonstration regarding the commercial feasibility and economic 
viability of private sector business operations involving the 
International Space Station and its related infrastructure. The goal 
will be furthered by the early use of the International Space Station by 
United States commercial entities committing private capital to 
commercial enterprises on the International Space Station. In 
conjunction with this demonstration program, the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA) shall establish and publish a price 
policy designed to eliminate price uncertainty for those planning to 
utilize the International Space Station and its related facilities for 
United States commercial use.
    ``(b) Use of Receipts for Commercial Use.--Any receipts collected by 
NASA from the commercial use of the International Space Station shall 
first be used to offset any costs incurred by NASA in support of the 
United States commercial use of the International Space Station. Any 
receipts collected in excess of the costs identified pursuant to the 
prior sentence may be retained by NASA for use without fiscal year 
limitation in promoting the commercial use of the International Space 
Station.
    ``(c) Report.--NASA shall submit an annual report to the Congress 
that identifies all receipts that are collected under this section, the 
use of the receipts and the status of the demonstration. NASA shall 
submit a final report on the status of the demonstration, including any 
recommendation for expansion, within 120 days of the completion of the 
assembly of the International Space Station or the end of fiscal year 
2004, whichever is earlier.
    ``(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term `United States 
commercial use' means private commercial projects that are designed to 
benefit the United States through the sales of goods or services or the 
creation of jobs, or both.
    ``(e) Termination.--The demonstration program established under this 
section shall apply to United States commercial use agreements that are 
entered into prior to the date of the completion of the International 
Space Station or the end of fiscal year 2004, whichever is earlier.''
