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For the last four years, GPS devices, critical infrastructure, satellites, and federal and commercial users that rely on satellite communications continue to face the threat of significant interference from the unprecedentedly flawed Ligado Order.  Independent scientific research mandated by the United States Congress confirmed that Ligado’s proposed terrestrial operations will cause harmful interference and is antithetical to the premise upon which satellite spectrum is granted in the first place.  More…

On February 9, 2024, private sector stakeholders filed an Amicus Brief in support of the United States Government in the Court of Federal Claims (Case No. 1:23-cv-1797). A copy of the Amici Curiae filed by Iridium Communications, Inc.; Aireon LLC; the Air Line Pilots Association, International; Airlines for America; and the International Air Transport Association is available here.

The following statement can be attributed to the Satellite Safety Alliance: 

The Satellite Safety Alliance has long advocated that the FCC reverse its flawed Ligado Order. Today’s Amicus Brief filed in support of the Government’s motion to dismiss documents the sordid administrative record in this proceeding and demonstrates that the opposition to Ligado’s proposal is broad and grounded in science. If the court fails to recognize this overwhelming record, it’ll inject more uncertainty into the operations of critical communications services using nearby spectrum to provide GPS, satellite communications, and weather forecasting services. Ligado has never cared about the harmful interference its terrestrial operations would cause, which the independent NAS study confirmed was very real. The arguments made today reiterate what we’ve long known: Ligado’s speculative spectrum-flipping venture jeopardizes U.S. national security, civil aviation safety, and billions of dollars in economic investment. The only solution remains the same – the FCC must reconsider its 2020 Order.

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Check out this panel from the annual National Spectrum Management Association (NSMA) Conference earlier this year discussing different uses of the L-band, including GPS, satellite and other critical capabilities benefitting from an interference-free environment.

The Satellite Safety Alliance congratulates Anna Gomez on her Senate confirmation to serve as a commissioner of the Federal Communications Communication (FCC). Ms. Gomez brings a breadth of telecommunications knowledge to the Commission, informed by a dedicated public service career with numerous federal agencies as well as extensive private sector experience. 

We look forward to working with Ms. Gomez to promote greater interagency collaboration on spectrum management and to ensure that critical communications services may operate free of harmful interference. 

June 1, 2023

By Nadia Dreid, Law360

Even though Ligado Networks has received a controversial go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission to operate in a slice of spectrum known as the L-band, a Canadian regulator just told the telecom no.

Read more at: https://www.law360.com/articles/1683671/canada-says-ligado-can-t-operate-in-l-band?copied=1

The Satellite Safety Alliance congratulates Anna Gomez on her nomination and Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr on their renominations to serve as FCC commissioners. It is essential that the FCC tackle today’s pressing connectivity issues, including creating a stable environment for the critical satellite communication, GPS, aviation, and weather industries. We look forward to working with Ms. Gomez, Mr. Starks, and Mr. Carr to revisit the flawed Ligado order to keep vital communications free from harmful interference.

Three years ago, the FCC adopted the flawed Ligado Order, which continues to threaten the operations of GPS devices, satellites, and other federal and commercial users. A growing body of research, including an independent technical report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, shows that Ligado’s proposed terrestrial operations would cause harmful interference in a broad range of scenarios.

91 organizations agree: it is time for the Administration to work with the FCC to stay the Order.

The Satellite Safety Alliance appreciates Senator Mike Rounds’ commitment to resolve the harmful Ligado interference issues as part of protecting America’s wireless leadership. Continue reading “Satellite Safety Alliance Statement on Senate Floor Debate Over Harmful Interference In Critical Spectrum Bands”

Nov. 21, 2022

A positive development for the weather community from the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on 1675-1680 MHz.

Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK)  sent letters to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioners Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks, and Nathan Simginton urging that the FCC stop the consideration of the proposal to share the 1675-1680 MHz frequency band with commercial wireless carriers for downlink purposes.

Continue reading “House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: CHAIRWOMAN JOHNSON AND RANKING MEMBER LUCAS URGE FCC TO LIMIT SPECTRUM SHARING TO AVOID HARMFUL INTERFERENCE IN THE 1675-1680 MHZ BAND”

Nov. 16, 2022

By Kelly Lienhard, Law360

Satellite phone provider Iridium wants the Federal Communications Commission to stay its contentious Trump-era order allowing Ligado Networks to use “L-band” spectrum for a terrestrial network, presenting a paper based on a National Academy of Sciences study that it says shows interference with Iridium from a single Ligado emitter.

Read more: https://www.law360.com/media/articles/1550065/iridium-calls-for-fcc-stay-of-trump-era-ligado-ruling