Ligado Networks and GPS

Updated September 9, 2022

This page provides information about potential interference to GPS users from Ligado Networks.

On April 20, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 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." View source (FCC.gov)

The Executive Branch (which is separate from FCC) is concerned because Ligado's proposed transmission power exceeds the thresholds established by the GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility study to protect GPS users from harmful interference. Learn more about the study

Recent Developments & Executive Branch Position Statements

Highlighted links represent FCC actions and official Executive Branch positions filed with FCC.

2022

• Sep 9: Report by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (nationalacademies.org)
  • DoD Statement (defense.gov)
  • NTIA Statement (NTIA.gov)
  • EXCOM Statement

2021

• Jun 22: Secretary of Commerce Letter to Senator Inhofe (PDF, senate.gov)
• Jan 19: FCC Order Denying Motion for Stay of Ligado Order and Authorization (FCC.gov)

2020

• Jul 1: National Space-Based PNT Advisory Board Position (PDF)
• Jun 26: DOT Briefing to FCC (PDF, FCC.gov)
• Jun 24: DOD Spotlight - Protecting America's Global Positioning System (defense.gov link broken)
• Jun 8: NTIA Reply to the Opposition to Petitions for Reconsideration or Clarification Submitted by Ligado Networks LLC (DOC.gov)
• May 22: NTIA Petitions for Stay and Reconsideration in Ligado Proceedings (DOC.gov)
  • Press Release (DOC.gov)
• May 7: DOD Testimony to Senate Armed Services Committee (senate.gov)
• Apr 22: FCC Order and Authorization for Ligado Networks (FCC.gov)
  • Apr 20: Press Release (FCC.gov)
• Apr 21: DHS Statement on Ligado (DHS.gov)
• Apr 10: NTIA Letter to FCC Chairman re Ligado Applications (DOC.gov)

2018-2019

• Dec 6, 2019: NTIA Letter to FCC Regarding Ligado Application (DOC.gov)
• Dec 3, 2018: EXCOM Letter to NTIA

Technical Studies & Papers

• Apr 2018: DOT Adjacent Band Compatibility (ABC) Assessment
• Mar 2018: EXCOM Gap Analysis
• Jul 2017: Air Force Paper on 1 dB GPS Interference Protection Criterion
• Feb 2017: National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) Report on LTE Impact on GPS Receivers (NIST.gov)

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