(WASHINGTON, D.C., January 1, 2021) — Today the Senate voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), following the House of Representatives’ override vote on December 28. The Satellite Safety Alliance would like to commend the actions of both the House and the Senate for taking this step to override the veto, considering the vital provisions included in the bill that seek an independent review of the dangerous interference caused by Ligado Networks. The passage of the NDAA into law is a win for all Americans and signifies a serious commitment by our elected officials to the national security interests of the country.

“As part of the Satellite Safety Alliance, Iridium has joined satellite service providers, the commercial passenger and cargo aviation industry, the farm sector, the public safety community, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation and many others across industries to raise the alarm and we will continue to do so,” said Iridium Communications CEO Matt Desch, “We thank Congress for its leadership and tireless hard work on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to address the errors of the initial Ligado order in this historic agreement. We look forward to working with the FCC and DOD at Congress’s direction to help ensure the protection of these critical services and our nation’s infrastructure.”

This action taken by both chambers of Congress provides a clear signal from a bipartisan majority of our nation’s lawmakers that they are concerned about Ligado’s potential to interfere with vital SATCOM and GPS services across the country. As was made clear via provisions included in the NDAA, Ligado will now be subject to an independent investigation that will ensure a clear look at how Ligado’s service would interfere with vital SATCOM and GPS services. Also included in the bill is a provision that prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from contracting with any company, like Ligado, whose operations may cause harmful interference to a DOD GPS device.

With the NDAA veto override, Congress has loudly expressed its concerns regarding the FCC’s flawed Ligado order and the resulting interference it is likely to cause to SATCOM services. Should the independent studies reveal interference as we expect, Ligado will not be able to move forward as it had planned. For years, Ligado (and formerly LightSquared) has been attempting to repurpose and flip satellite spectrum under the guise of advancing 5G technology in America. After over 10 years and millions of dollars wasted on lobbyists and lawyers, this “Ligado is 5G” argument has simply been proven to be a myth.

The Satellite Safety Alliance would like to commend, in particular, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) for his courageous work as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His commitment to protecting our country’s security infrastructure and the countless commercial satellite-based industries that would be threatened by harmful Ligado-related interference has been second to none. Additionally, the action by both chambers of Congress to override the president’s veto of the NDAA would not have been possible without the tireless work of other members of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees (HASC/SASC), including SASC Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), HASC Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), HASC Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN) and many others. We are grateful for the intrepid leadership these members showed in standing up to a deeply flawed decision by the FCC and in advancing a process that will lead to a better result for our national security.

 

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About the Satellite Safety Alliance

The Satellite Safety Alliance is a broad-based group of companies, organizations and institutions who rely on GPS, satellite communications services, aviation navigation equipment and essential weather and other environmental data to keep the world safe, connected anytime and anywhere, and contributing to the nation’s economic growth. 

Contact
Charlie Vinopal
cvinopal@glenechogroup.com