Citing multiple ongoing and unresolved concerns about\npotential harm to the GPS-based National Airspace System (NAS), a broad\ncoalition of aviation stakeholders including NBAA forcefully responded to\nLigado Networks\u2019 dispute of a petition from NBAA and others asking the Federal\nCommunications Commission (FCC) to pause its approval of Ligado\u2019s latest\nproposed broadband cellular communications network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ligado, formerly known as LightSquared, filed its dispute\nlast month after the 11 aviation groups cited numerous apparent discrepancies\nin a petition questioning the FCC\u2019s decision to allow deployment of a\nhigh-speed 5G nationwide cellular service operating within bands traditionally\nutilized by GPS and satellite communications (Satcom) networks, including for\naviation communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noting Ligado\u2019s dispute sought to downplay the expertise of\nindustry stakeholders \u2013 blithely referencing the arguments raised by the\ncoalition of airline and general aviation groups, along with several OEMs,\navionics manufacturers and other industry stakeholders \u2013 the groups\u2019 response\nasserts the breadth of opposition offers ample reason to pause the FCC\u2019s\napproval of Ligado\u2019s network, particularly when viewed against the two\ncounterarguments raised by parties with known financial interests in the\ntelecommunications entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Oppositions filed by Ligado and its hired allies\nrepeatedly resort to mischaracterization of the Petition, the Order, the FAA\u2019s\nown analysis that the order is fundamentally based upon, and the record,\u201d reads\nthe aviation group\u2019s response. \u201cMore troubling, the Oppositions further\nillustrate the inadequacy of the Order\u2019s conditions to address the harmful interference\nthat Ligado\u2019s planned deployments will cause GPS receivers and [satcom]\nterminals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n