Wednesday, May 06, 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY: Today's Senate Armed Services Hearing on Ligado

The following is a compilation of a Twitter thread by Free State Foundation President Randolph J. May regarding today's hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the FCC's grant of Ligado's application of L-Band spectrum for its mixed satellite-terrestrial network:
Senate Armed Services Comm. has every right to hold a hearing on @FCC grant of @LigadoNetworks long-pending license application to use L-Band spectrum. But it's disappointing the hearing is so one-sided. FCC based its decision on its technical expertise, and it should be heard. Because grant of @LigadoNetworks will further #5G deployment, it furthers a national security interest. There is widespread agreement US doesn't want to lose #5G race to China or others. I have confidence in the engineering expertise of @FCC re interference determination. To be constructive, focus of the hearing shouldn't be on reversing the FCC decision, but looking towards how FCC should implement mitigation actions IF needed after Ligado net is operational. I have confidence that @FCC has the requisite authority, and would exercise it, IF it turned out that adjustments to @LigadoNetworks license were needed as a matter of national security once Ligado's network is operational.