Subject:?ÿ[EXTERNAL] Chairman Pai Circulates Draft Order To Approve Ligado's Application
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All,?ÿ
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Below is the Chairman's draft order
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Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai circulated to his colleagues a draft order that would approve with conditions Ligado??s application to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network in the?ÿL-Band that would primarily support 5G and Internet of Things services.?ÿ This draft order would both promote more efficient and effective use of our nation??s spectrum resources and ensure that adjacent band operations, including the Global Positioning System (GPS), are protected from harmful interference.?ÿ
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??After many years of consideration, it is time for the FCC to make a decision and bring this proceeding to a close,? said Chairman Pai.?ÿ ??We have compiled an extensive record, which confirms that it is in the public interest to grant Ligado??s application while imposing stringent conditions to prevent harmful interference.?ÿ The draft order that I have presented to my colleagues would make more efficient use of underused spectrum and promote the deployment of 5G and Internet of Things services.
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??Although I appreciate the concerns that have been raised by certain Executive Branch agencies, it is the Commission??s duty to make an independent determination based on sound engineering.?ÿ And based on the painstaking technical analysis done by our expert staff, I am convinced that the conditions outlined in this draft order would permit Ligado to move forward without causing harmful interference.?ÿ For example, the draft order would authorize downlink operations at a power level that represents a greater than 99% reduction from what Ligado proposed in its 2015 application.?
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In recent years, Ligado has amended its application to significantly reduce the power levels of its base stations from 32 dBW to 9.8 dBW (a reduction of 99.3%).?ÿ Ligado has also committed to providing a significant (23 megahertz) guard-band using its own licensed spectrum to further separate its terrestrial base station transmissions from neighboring operations in the Radionavigation-Satellite Service allocation.?ÿ As such, Ligado is now only seeking terrestrial use of the 1526-1536 MHz, 1627.5-1637.5 MHz, and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz bands.?ÿ The Order is conditioned to reflect these technical requirements.?ÿ It also requires Ligado to protect adjacent band incumbents by reporting its base station locations and technical operating parameters to potentially affected government and industry stakeholders prior to commencing operations, continuously monitoring the transmit power of its base station sites, and complying with procedures and actions for responding to credible reports of interference, including rapid shutdown of operations where warranted.
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Chris Mindnich Legislative Liaison National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT
Herbert Hoover Building, rm. 53207
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C.?ÿ 20230 phone: (202) 482-2004 email: [email protected] www.gps.gov
Have attached PNT clips from yesterday.?ÿ ?ÿLigado has a green light to proceed.
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I suggest that the US Air Force be authorized to take out any earth based station that interfere with military GPS.
Paul in PA
Saw mention of Ajit Pai in a local newspaper recently.?ÿ They run a little special every day listing an item or two that appeared in their paper 20, 30 and 40 years ago on the same day of the year.?ÿ He was a senior in high school 30 years ago.?ÿ The item, as I recall, focused on his great success nationally in competitive debate.
His father was a urologist and his mother was an anesthesiologist.?ÿ I rescued his mother from drowning in the city pool in 1983.
FCC's approval for moving Ligado forward.?ÿ See a letter sent to FCC before approval.
Are we that desperate for 5G that were willing to spectrum encroach on GPS?????
Opposition letter from Coalition of Aviation, Satellite Communications, and Weather Information Users. Some real heavy hitters here. Submitted right before FCC approval:
http://safesatellite.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ligado-dismissal-letter-4.16.20-c3-1.pdf
Quote the director of the PNT National Coordination Office:
??This is not 5G vs GPS, that is a false choice. Plenty of room for 5G elsewhere. No need to harm millions of Americans who rely on GPS?? This choice is simply do we wish to allow harm to GPS or not.?
Well, the original Lightsquared battle was a knock-down, drag-out fight.?ÿ
The original suggestion by both Lightsquared and the FCC (which seems to be pretty good at parroting the views of whomever is throwing the most amount of money at it) was that it was up to GPS industry groups to fix every single device utilizing GPS signals because they were "too prone to picking up interference". Seems that attitude has finally prevailed, even as the number of devices using GPS has exploded.
The equation has always been and remains: $$$ > Science
It was only a matter of time before the FCC caved.
Looks like they changed the frequencies to a lower 1526-1536.0 MHz to stay away from L1 GPS frequency (1575.42 MHz). And the reduced power of their transmitter may help greatly. But I was part of the original testing of the effects of "Lightsquared" (Ligado) transmission on GPS, and it was not pretty. None of the GPS receiver manufacturers were able to track any SVs while Ligado were transmitting. (NOTE: Javad was not present). The big issue is the use of correction services to increase the accuracy of your position. The satellites transmit the corrections very close to the 1536 MHz L-band. I can't speak to what testing has shown with the latest frequency change and power output levels from Ligado.
Gavin's article on this?ÿ https://www.xyht.com/gnsslocation-tech/5g-vs-gps/ ?ÿ Love the title - FCC 5G vs GPS Stinkbomb.
I was alarmed during the Lightsquared battle when I learned about 30% of my retirement fund was invested in an especially lucrative annuity marketed by Phillip Falcone of Harbinger Capital, the promoter of the Lightsquared plan, who spearheaded some dirty dealings concerning questionable technical matters, political influence activity involving campaign contributions, and investors in high places.?ÿ ?ÿBefore he became president, Senator Obama had invested between $50,000 and $90,000 in SkyTerra, which later became LightSquared.
Falcone's fortunes took a turn for the worse soon after the Lightsquared fiasco, an unrelated securities fraud conviction which cost him 11.5 million and a five-year ban from the securities industry.?ÿ ?ÿHarbinger Capital Partners maintains a minority stake (44%?) in Ligado Networks to this day, and it appears the "wait long enough for a more lenient regulatory?ÿagency"?ÿ worked out for them.?ÿ Sad.
Bloomberg article today.?ÿ Ester wrote.... "??Ligado??s test, with the limited number of units utilized, is not reflective of the negative effect Ligado??s amended proposal would have on both government and commercial use,? Esper added.
Ligado:
Pentagon Chief Chides FCC on Ligado Approval as GPS Threat
By: Todd Shields and Anthony Capaccio
Bloomberg
5 May 2020
?ÿU.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said regulators had used incomplete data in approving Ligado Networks LLC for a mobile network that the military says threatens interference to GPS.
?ÿThe Federal Communications Commission relied on Ligado-funded test results that used 14 receivers, but U.S. agencies examined 80 devices and found Ligado??s operations would cause harmful interference, Esper said in a May 1 letter to Senator James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
?ÿ??The FCC, by disregarding the numerous objections based on hard data and analysis, and industry could compromise national security,? Esper said in the letter, which was sent with the approach of a hearing. ??America deserves a better alternative.?
?ÿLigado said the tests Esper referenced used a ??flawed methodology.?
?ÿU.S. officials ??tested all of those 80 devices in one room at the same time, and, as a result, a lot of uncertainty was created. In this instance, it seems more was not better,? Ashley Durmer, a Ligado spokeswoman, said in an email. The FCC decided that the ??test cannot be relied upon to show harmful interference to GPS from Ligado,? Durmer said.
?ÿEsper dismissed one of Ligado??s selling points, saying the proposal doesn??t meaningfully bolster U.S. capability in fast 5G networks. The Defense Department is moving ??aggressively? to identify other airwaves it can share for use by 5G, Esper said.
?ÿ??Ligado??s test, with the limited number of units utilized, is not reflective of the negative effect Ligado??s amended proposal would have on both government and commercial use,? Esper added.
?ÿDurmer said other companies and the FCC regard Ligado as advancing 5G.
?ÿInhofe and other lawmakers have called for the FCC to withdraw its April 20 approval of Ligado??s plan and resolve Defense Department concerns and said Congress might otherwise act.
?ÿThe company says its mobile network would operate at a low power level and won??t pose a threat to the precise navigation enabled by GPS.
?ÿThe Armed Services Committee has set a May 6 hearing on the impact of the FCC??s decision.
?ÿTina Pelkey, an FCC spokeswoman, didn??t immediately reply to an email and telephone call.
?ÿAt the end of February, Ligado hired David Urban, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump who runs the lobbying firm American Continental Group and has been a vocal defender of the president as a CNN political commentator, to work on its behalf. Despite only working for the company for a little more then a month, the company paid American Continental Group $100,000, according to an April 20 disclosure form.
?ÿUrban was a member of the West Point class of 1986 along with Esper and is a personal friend. Urban lobbied the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department, according to disclosures.
?ÿSecretary of State Michael Pompeo, another member of the class of 1986, called approval of Ligado??s plan ??vital to our national security.?
Click on the link to watch the Senate hearing today on Ligado.
Will The Pentagon be listened too??ÿ Check out the key points the CIO of the Army handed out in the hearings.
Department of Defense Spectrum Policy and the Impact of the Federal Communications Commission??s Ligado Decision on National Security
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/he arings/20-05-06-department-of-defense-spectrum-policy-and-the-impact-of-the-federal-communications-commissions-ligado-decision-on-national-security
@gisjoel Watched about 1 hour of the hearing (by skipping ahead when it got repetitive or technical ((I know the charts))) and I think Legado is in trouble. DOD reps carry a big stick and the CONUS civilian sector reps are in line to oppose it. It's all about interference, if Legado is allowed to deploy multiwatt terrestrial CONUS transceivers in/near the SAT-COM band on a wide scale a lot of GPS receivers will suffer.
As CONUS Land Surveyors, we should put in our 2¢ and defend the GPS guard band situation against any terrestrial intruders. You got older GPS equipment, be concerned.
I can't find anywhere to voice my disapproval. If you do, post it here.
I can't find anywhere to voice my disapproval.
I don't think there is such a place - ADM Allen specifically called out the FCC for bypassing the usual public comment procedures.
I watched about 90% of the hearing last night and this morning. It was refreshing (and unusual) to see a political hearing where the committee members really seemed interested in, and deferred to, the technical expertise of the witnesses.
I would agree that Ligado is in trouble if the Committee takes this information to heart and throws the red flag. I for one am surprised there has been no "YOUR CAR NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS GOING TO SEND YOU OFF A CLIFF!!!!!" national news stories. Maybe that would help...
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Not to say this would fly with NOAA, but NGS could voice an opinion if there is any concern about spectrum enchroachment regarding CORS. Pentagon has sure jumped in, but what about the professional survey communities?
I read the thread title originally thought it was a scene out of the movie Dune (1984)
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Love that movie - the book series a classic. Wish the FCC's recommendation to encroach on the frequency of GPS was a fantasy though.
Link to Senate Hearings. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/20-05-06-department-of-defense-spectrum-policy-and-the-impact-of-the-federal-communications-commissions-ligado-decision-on-national-security
Previous link incorrectly assigned the URL.
Slide the video to 1 hour 16:32 minutes. Ignoring the excellent Pentagon speech, but listen to the 4 points that brings this down to Senate speech. Ligado has always stated, they are very close to the spectrum of GPS (23MHz away) should be sufficient away to operate, but at low power.