2120-AJ90 201210 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 2120 Federal Aviation Administration FAA 2100 Department of Transportation DOT Effective Tether System (Tether Rule) This rulemaking would exclude tethered launches from the licensing requirements of 14 CFR chapter III. This rulemaking is necessary to maintain public safety for these launches by providing launch vehicle operators with clear and simple criteria for a safe tethered launch. For tethered launches that satisfy the design and operational criteria, the FAA would not require a license, permit or waiver. This action is intended to impose no additional requirements on operators, but provides an alternative to conducting a tethered launches. Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 14 CFR 400 14 CFR 401 49 USC 44701 No NPRM 08/23/2012 77 FR 50956 NPRM Comment Period End 10/22/2012 Analyzing Comments 01/00/2013 No No None No www.regulations.gov www.regulations.gov No No Felix Acon-chen 2120 Federal Aviation Administration FAA 202 267-8406 felix.acon-chen@faa.gov 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20591