In April of 2020, the FCC approved Ligado Network’s application to operate a 5G network in the L-band radio spectrum. This is the band adjacent to the one used for GPS. Ligado’s proposed network will interfere with GPS and other satellite-based technology. Ligado is the new name of LightSquared, which was forced into bankruptcy and restructuring following a loss almost 10 years ago on this same GPS interference issue. At that time, LightSquared insisted that the GPS industry should have to deal with any issues caused by their 5G system.
Key Activities
- NAAA joined a coalition with over 70 organizations and companies, and includes aviation, agriculture, weather, engineering, surveying, and defense interests to oppose FCC’s decision.
- A study by the DOT revealed that most non-IFR-certified GPS equipment, such as that used for general aviation, would experience interference at close to a mile from a Ligado tower. For GPS equipment certified for IFR, the interference would not occur until the GPS equipment got to within around 250 feet of the 5G transmitter, but the DOT report noted this is still a major concern for low altitude aircraft operations
- In May of 2020, the coalition worked with U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe’s (R-OK) staff to get numerous senators to sign a letter which asked the FCC to reconsider their decision. The coalition also prepared a talking-points document and FAQ’s briefing about FCC’s approval of Ligado’s plan and submitted a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services that outlined several of the problems with Ligado’s technology and FCC’s rushed job of approving it.
- On May 22, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) filed a petition to stay FCC’s order as well as a request for the FCC to reconsider its decision, which the coalition supported via a letter.
- In July of 2020, the House Agriculture Committee submitted a letter to the FCC asking them to reconsider their Ligado order.
- In October of 2020, the coalition submitted a letter expressing its concerns with the Ligado decision to Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman
- On January 1, 2021, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA) was enacted. It required an independent technical review of the Ligado order by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine The NDAA also prohibited the DoD from contracting with any entity that engages in terrestrial service in the L-band absent a certification from the Defense Secretary that such service does not cause harmful interference to any DoD GPS devices;
- In July of 2021, NAAA participated in a meeting with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Academies) to discuss how Ligado Network’s planned 5G network will interfere with non-certified GPS devices used in the aerial application industry.
- In May of 2022, the coalition sent letters to President Joe Biden and the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate reminding them of the harm Ligado’s proposed network presents to GPS, satellite communications, and weather forecasting services. It asks them to work with the FCC to stay the order and allow congressionally mandated studies currently being conducted sufficient time to conclude and be analyzed.
- In September 2022, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued their report on Ligado’s planned operations . The report confirmed FCC’s 2020 decision will create significant risks of harmful interference to GPS-dependent aircraft safety systems The report also found that the proposed solutions to potential interference to GPS caused by Ligado’s network are not feasible in terms of either timeliness or cost effectiveness.
- At the end of November 2022, Ligado was seeking another round of funding to avoid bankruptcy as their plans for deploying their technology continue to be delayed. In May of 2023 Canadian regulators denied Ligado’s petition to operate their proposed network in Canada
- In April 2023, the coalition again sent letters to President Biden, House of Representatives, and Senate marking the third anniversary of FCC’s decision and reminding them of the potential harmful impacts of Ligado’s proposed network.
- The continued opposition to Ligado’s proposed network has resulted in them not yet deploying their network and placing them in financial trouble.
- In October of 2023, Ligado sued the U.S. government, claiming the DoD and Commerce Department orchestrated a public disinformation campaign that prevented Ligado from commercializing their proposed network and thus blocked their business plans.
- In April 2024 the coalition again sent letters to President Biden, House of Representatives, and Senate marking the third anniversary of FCC’s decision and reminding them of the potential harmful impacts of Ligado’s proposed network.
- In November of 2024 a motion from the federal government to dismiss Ligado’s complaint was granted in part and denied in part
- In December of 2024 NAAA joined with the coalition on a letter to FCC challenging claims made by Ligado in their 2024 report.
- In January 2025 Ligado filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy while it continues its lawsuit against the federal government.
Recent Updates
The lawsuit with the U.S. Government continues; Ligado now alleges over $50 billion in damages. Bankruptcy court has confirmed Ligado’s reorganization plan but Ligado has yet to emerge from bankruptcy. Ligado has shifted their efforts from a terrestrial L-band network to a satellite based use through AST SpaceMobile which has not yet been approved by the FCC. Their proposed frequencies still border the GPS frequency range. The coalition does not believe Ligado has sufficiently examined the effects that combined interference from multiple satellites might have on GPS.