Experts in both Congress and the private sector have voiced their opposition to Ligado’s proposal to the FCC. See below for a collection of quotes from these experts on why this proposal is so detrimental to the entirety of the SATCOM community.
Experts note that the impacts caused by Global Positioning System (GPS) interference as a result of the FCC decision would not only have negative impacts on our nation’s military but also on millions of general aviation operations each year. Given the apparent safety and national security issues involved with this decision, we believe the FCC should immediately rescind this order until concerns are fully addressed and agreed upon by all parties involved.
Statement, May 6, 2020
The FCC decision will negatively impact satellite-based systems important to aviation safety and raises significant questions about the FCC evaluation process. We urge the FCC to reconsider this decision and take action to fully address concerns expressed by government and private sector stakeholders.
Statement, May 6, 2020
After completing a 3 billion dollar constellation transformation that will enable an even wider range of satellite-based capabilities, Iridium has already invested heavily in a new era of technological innovation and growth in this unprecedented time. Unfortunately, the FCC’s Order relies on speculative commitments made by Ligado and would allow it to cause concrete harm. Our partners – and the services procured by entities who use our service – rely on a stable spectrum environment necessary to confirm protection of their operations so we want to ensure that remains the case. We note the significant concerns raised by bipartisan Members of Congress, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, eleven other federal agencies, the aviation industry, defense contractors, and many more throughout the private sector over the FCC’s approval of Ligado’s applications. A diverse array of independent experts has consistently concluded that the FCC’s decision is likely to cause harmful interference to critical systems that ensure the safety of airline passengers, America’s warfighters and many others. The FCC needs to hit the pause button and take a more thoughtful approach.
Statement, May 6, 2020
New technology is vital to America’s economy, national security, and to our aerospace and defense industry. However, the government has a responsibility to help ensure it is deployed in a way that does not jeopardize the work of our armed forces or the safety of the American people. Today’s announcement disregards the serious concerns raised by various government agencies about the harmful impacts to GPS. We urge the FCC to reject the Chairman’s proposal and adequately protect the GPS network that underpins our nation’s military operations and the safety of our airspace.
Statement, May 6, 2020
ASRI and the wider aviation community believe the FCC’s unfortunate decision to grant Ligado’s modification applications, despite the license conditions adopted, will create lasting damage to GPS and SATCOM systems relied upon by all aviation users, including, not least, the traveling public. The action by FCC overlooks key concerns that have been documented and supported with expert studies and opinions from government users and industry for several years. The FCC conditions do not do enough to mitigate the potential for damage to a number of industries crucial to US economic output. In this example, the stated objective of repurposing small amount of spectrum to support 5G and IoT compared to mid-band spectrum recently made available makes little sense given the overwhelming opposition from pilots, aerospace engineers, GPS manufacturers, airlines, defense manufacturers, satellite operators, and automobile manufacturers, not to mention the outspoken concerns of relevant expert federal agencies, including FAA, DOT, DOD, and DHS, whose spectrum use will be adversely impacted.
Statement, May 6, 2020
The Ligado proposal has serious consequences for the GPS network that millions of Americans rely on every day. I applaud the congressional defense leaders for their efforts to protect national security, ensure economic prosperity, promote technological leadership, & preserve Americans’ way of life. https://t.co/FdYXrB28Cc?amp=1
The problem here is that Ligado’s planned usage is not in the prime mid-band spectrum being considered for 5G — and it will have a significant risk of interference with GPS reception, according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The signals interference Ligado’s plan would create could cost taxpayers and consumers billions of dollars and require the replacement of current GPS equipment just as we are trying to get our economy back on its feet quickly — and the FCC has just allowed this to happen.
The FCC’s decision to approve Ligado’s controversial plan is alarming and jeopardizes America’s national and economic security. The GPS system is the backbone of so many technologies that Americans rely on every day, and our military depends on to protect our homeland. It is unprecedented for the FCC to take such brazen action in the face of near unanimous opposition across the federal government.
We have been extremely vocal on the need for America to regain our authority as a global leader in 5G and offer a realistic alternative to China’s Huawei. However, Ligado’s plan does neither. America’s appetite for spectrum will only increase, and the FCC’s actions sets a dangerous precedent that may force Congress to revisit this issue. We firmly believe that we must increase our investment in 5G, but through the implementation of dynamic spectrum sharing technologies that allow our military and commercial sectors to co-exist. This alternative provides the only realistic path forward that protects our national security, recharges our domestic 5G industries, and presents a trusted, secure alternative to Huawei.
The Department of Homeland Security recommended the FCC deny the Ligado license and remains concerned that an approval creates a high degree of uncertainty for our public and private sector partners, many of whom- along with the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and Transportation, rely on precise and uninterrupted Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) to ensure the security and resilience of their infrastructure. Our critical infrastructure partners across the public and private sectors have similar dependence on PNT and GPS for the security and resilience of their operations.
If the FCC moves forward with its proposed action on Ligado, we will work with our partners to ensure procedures are in place to identify interference with GPS and rapidly implement mitigation measures while supporting the domestic deployment of 5G.
DHS will continue to work to manage risk to GPS receivers and promote the responsible use of PNT, in accordance with the President’s Executive Order.
It is unconscionable that the FCC is putting industry profiteering ahead of the numerous experts who have made clear that approving Ligado’s application poses a litany of safety and security risks. Messing with GPS affects everything from the Coast Guard carrying out critical missions at sea, to military operations abroad, to emergency vehicles in our communities, to the integrity of the national airspace system, and efforts to establish new innovations such as automated vehicles—all of which depend on the future reliability and performance of GPS. The FCC must find another way to move forward on 5G networks without risking critical transportation systems that are ever more reliant on accurate, precise, and reliable position, navigation, and timing transmissions. There is far too much at stake to consider this case closed, and I will continue to press for answers as to how the FCC arrived at its final decision and how it will affect safety and security as we know it.
