DOD's Ligado Opposition Contradicts Past Agency Stance, Company Says
DOD, in opposing Ligado's proposed license modifications (see 1911210055), is contradicting the stance it took in 2010 on GPS protection, the company said in a docket 11-109 filing to be posted. DOD then concurred with NTIA that GPS devices should…
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be protected only when operating in their allocated spectrum, but today the agency wants Ligado's applications denied because of a 1 dB change in noise floor in GPS devices operating in Ligado spectrum, the company said. It said FCC reliance on such now-contrary statements would be "the height of unreasoned decision-making." The satellite firm said 2016 Air Force testing of possible effects on military GPS receivers never raised red flags. It submitted a 2013 email from a former principal director with the DOD Deputy Chief Information Officer for Resources Analysis office saying DOD had "no issue" with what was then LightSquared's proposal. "This continues the pattern in which the Department blithely ignores past commitments on the relevant spectrum, does not reveal or ignores its own tests, and ignores its clear statements to Congress on Ligado’s spectrum plan," the company said. DOD didn't comment. FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly urged the agency Tuesday to make a decision on Ligado's pending license modification applications (see 2001210028).