FCC Unanimously Approves Ligado’s Application to Facilitate 5G And
Internet of Things Services
Conditions Will Protect Incumbents from Harmful Interference
Today, the Federal
Communications Commission announced that it has approved with conditions
Ligado’s application to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network in
the L-Band that will primarily support 5G and
Internet of Things services. The order approving Ligado’s application was
adopted without dissent and will 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.
“I thank my colleagues
for coming together on a bipartisan basis to support Ligado’s application,”
said Chairman Pai. “The vote at the Commission reflects the broad,
bipartisan support that this order has received, from Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr on the one hand to Senator Mark Warner
of Virginia and Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California on the other.
This vote is another step forward for American leadership in 5G and advanced
wireless services.”
In the order approving
Ligado’s application, the Commission included stringent conditions to ensure
that incumbents would not experience harmful interference. For example,
the Commission mandated that Ligado provide a significant (23 megahertz)
guard-band using its own licensed spectrum to separate its terrestrial base station
transmissions from neighboring operations in the Radionavigation-Satellite
Service allocation. Moreover, Ligado is required to limit the power
levels of its base stations to 9.8 dBW, a reduction of 99.3% from the power
levels proposed in Ligado’s 2015 application. The order 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.
Source: FCC media announcement
