(1)Range control services may be provided only by—
(a)the Secretary of State, or
(b)a person authorised to provide them by a range control licence.
(2)In this Act—
“range control licence” means a licence under this section;
“range control service provider” means a person providing range control services.
(3)A person does not require a range control licence to provide, as employee or agent of another person, range control services the provision of which is authorised by a range control licence granted to that other person.
(4)Regulations may make provision for persons or services to be exempted, either by the regulations themselves or by the regulator, from the prohibition in subsection (1) on unlicensed persons providing range control services, but only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the prohibition—
(a)is not necessary to secure public safety,
(b)is not necessary to secure the health and safety of individuals taking part in spaceflight activities in a role or capacity prescribed under section 17(1), and
(c)is not necessary to secure compliance with the international obligations of the United Kingdom.
(5)An exemption granted by or under regulations made under subsection (4) may be for a limited period.
(6)Regulations may make further provision for the purposes of this section, including in particular—
(a)provision prescribing eligibility criteria to be the holder of a range control licence;
(b)provision about the circumstances in which, and the conditions subject to which, a person may be authorised to provide range control services for spaceflight activities carried out by that person;
(c)provision for securing the independence of individuals involved in the provision of range control services from individuals involved in the spaceflight activities for which the services are provided;
(d)provision as to how range control services are to be provided;
(e)provision requiring prescribed roles to be undertaken by individuals on behalf of the holder of a range control licence;
(f)provision imposing restrictions on the holder of a range control licence delegating the provision of range control services;
(g)provision about the procedure in connection with the granting of an exemption by or under regulations made under subsection (4) (including provision for applications);
(h)provision about the terms of an exemption or the conditions to which an exemption is subject;
(i)provision about the revocation or renewal of an exemption;
(j)provision for the enforcement of terms or conditions of an exemption.
(7)The regulator may issue guidance about how the holder of a range control licence may comply with any safety requirements imposed by regulations under subsection (6).
(8)A person who acts in contravention of subsection (1) commits an offence.
(9)It is an offence for a person—
(a)to make a statement that the person knows to be false in a material particular, or
(b)recklessly to make a statement that is false in a material particular,
for the purpose of obtaining a range control licence (whether for the person making the statement or anyone else).