United States Code Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs

§ 60113. Data policy for Landsat 7

§ 60113.

Data policy for Landsat 7

(a)

Landsat 7 Data Policy.—

The Landsat Program Management, in consultation with other appropriate United States Government agencies, shall develop a data policy for Landsat 7 which should—

(1)

ensure that unenhanced data are available to all users at the cost of fulfilling user requests;

(2)

ensure timely and dependable delivery of unenhanced data to the full spectrum of civilian, national security, commercial, and foreign users and the National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive;

(3)

ensure that the United States retains ownership of all unenhanced data generated by Landsat 7;

(4)

support the development of the commercial market for remote sensing data;

(5)

ensure that the provision of commercial value-added services based on remote sensing data remains exclusively the function of the private sector; and

(6)

to the extent possible, ensure that the data distribution system for Landsat 7 is compatible with the Earth Observing System Data and Information System.

(b)

Additional Data Policy Considerations.—

In addition, the data policy for Landsat 7 may provide for—

(1)

United States private sector entities to operate ground receiving stations in the United States for Landsat 7 data;

(2)

other means for direct access by private sector entities to unenhanced data from Landsat 7; and

(3)

the United States Government to charge a per image fee, license fee, or other such fee to entities operating ground receiving stations or distributing Landsat 7 data.