Weather, Satcom, GPS Interests Say Ligado Interference Concerns Remain

Ligado's proposed terrestrial broadband operations still "pose a significant interference risk" for parties getting real-time National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather and environmental data and to certified GPS receivers, aeronautical safety satellite communications and Iridium end users, despite Ligado's protests to the contrary, said aviation and weather interests in a docket 11-109 FCC filing posted Tuesday. They said Ligado continues to try to gloss over filings showing potential for harmful interference and "to discount the import and validity" of the Transportation Department's ongoing Adjacent Band Compatibility evaluation. They said the FCC shouldn't act on the satellite company's requests until the agency addresses those interference issues, and had input from other federal agencies. Signers of the filing included AccuWeather, Aerospace Industries Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, Gogo Business Aviation, Helicopter Association International, International Air Transport Association, Iridium, the National Weather Association and Thales. Ligado said it has "worked with the Commission and interested parties for nearly two years to resolve interference concerns, including signing cooperation agreements with major GPS companies that ensure Ligado is compatible with GPS and will not interfere with aviation safety or NOAA’s operations. Safety of life is paramount, and that’s why we have collaborated extensively with the FAA to protect aviation safety and provide the industry with an advanced level of connectivity currently unavailable today. Additionally, we have proposed that NOAA use a fiber cable and cloud-based delivery system for its weather data. This proposal and Ligado’s commitment to protect NOAA’s own operations will allow an auction of the 1675-1680 MHz band and preserve NOAA’s mission. Today’s filing contains no new information, no new technical analysis, no new data. It is simply a re-packaging of the same old complaints, all of which have already been amply addressed in the record.” In an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 11-109, Ligado recapped a phone call with the Wireless Bureau employees about aviation industry concerns (see 1706210030) in which it said the concerns raised previously were discussed as part of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics review and presented to the Federal Aviation Administration.