Washington View: The Latest on Ligado
While an independent report from NASEM has validated some NTIA GPS interference claims, no real mitigation is in in sight.
By Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)While an independent report from NASEM has validated some NTIA GPS interference claims, no real mitigation is in in sight.
By Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)Tallysman® Wireless recently introduced the housed TW3885T dual-band (L1/L5) Accutenna® technology timing antenna. The antenna supports GPS/QZSS L1/L5, Galileo E1/ E5a/b, BeiDou B1/B2/B2a, GLONASS G1/G3 and in the region of operation, satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS): WAAS (North America), EGNOS (Europe), MSAS (Japan), or GAGAN (India), according to a news release.
By Inside GNSSTallysman Wireless announced its new eXtended Filtering (XF) features to the TW3900 series of Accutenna precision antennas. The XF feature is designed to mitigate interference from all near-band signals.
By Inside GNSSU.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, wrote an opinion editorial piece at the close of 2020 warning any investors or potential investors in Ligado Networks that they face “massive risks.”
By Inside GNSSAs 2020 comes to a close, the Ligado Networks LLC’s (Ligado) mobile satellite services (MSS) project remains at a standstill. While actions in the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) proceedings in the case have stagnated, Congressional action, funds and filings have flowed.
By Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)Six months ago, the FCC unanimously granted Ligado’s amended license modification applications to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network in the L-Band. Petitions for reconsideration remain pending, interest groups continue to agitate for change, Congress awaits answers to conflict-of-interest questions—and Ligado presses forward as planned.
By Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)A favorable GAO ruling discounted Congressional allegations that the FCC skipped a key legal step before granting Ligado’s controversial application. This positions the broadband company closer to its target and to ongoing interference with GPS signals.
By Dawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that he has placed a hold on the nomination of Mike O’Rielly to a third term as Federal Communications Commision (FCC) Commissioner until O’Rielly publicly commits to vote to overturn the current Ligado Order.
By Inside GNSSFive organizations representing thousands of companies and millions of Americans have launched a new coalition to protect end users of GPS, following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) April 22 decision to permit Ligado Networks to operate a terrestrial wireless network using its satellite spectrum.
By Inside GNSSThe Federal Communications Commission should really consider updating its motto. “Firm, fast, flexible, and fair” has a bit of an old-fashioned ring. As mottos go, it fails to keep up with the times.
By Alan CameronIn its order allowing Ligado Networks to use satellite frequencies for on-the-ground wireless, the Federal Communications Commission set conditions on the firm’s operations, but only at the very tail end. Those conditions are there to help protect GPS receivers from interference — interference the FCC acknowledges as being quite possible.
By Dee Ann DivisThough the FCC approved Ligado Networks’ request to use satellite frequencies to support terrestrial 5G, opposition to the move remains firm as everyone waits to see what kind of measures are included in the final decision to protect GPS from interference.
By Dee Ann DivisThe five members of the Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to approve a request by Ligado Networks to use satellite frequencies neighboring those used by GPS to broadcast from ground antennas for 5G, the agency announced Monday morning.
By Dee Ann DivisFederal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai’s step this week toward approving Ligado Networks’ request to use its satellite frequencies for a terrestrial 5G service comes after nearly a decade of testing that showed both versions of their proposal would interfere with GPS users.
By Dee Ann DivisWe stand at an existential crossroads while someone else decides our future. I don’t mean the choice of direction, currently roiling the front pages, that pits the national health against the national economy. No, this one doesn’t get the attention it deserves, outside of the PNT and the telecom communities, though arguably it could have equally long-running and widespread, perhaps catastrophic effects.
By Alan Cameron