Image: RNT Foundation
Blog Editor’s Note: After a seemingly long hiatus, several more chapters of this saga are unfolding.
This is a bit of a “last chance” for Senator Inhofe. He has been particularly vociferous on this issue. His term of office ends in January and he is not seeking re-election.
And, despite some very powerful Senators and Representatives from both parties weighing in to support him on this, no legislation has passed reversing the FCC’s decision. This is likely due to Congress’ reluctance to interfere with fairly complex administrative decisions, and the fact that there are a significant number of members who have been persuaded to the other side of the issue.
It will be interesting to see what the National Academy of Sciences has to say. Our prediction is that it will be a “on the one hand/ but on the other hand” kind of report and both sides will find things in it to support their case.
We hope that there will at least clearly be more in one hand than in the other.
Inhofe, Reed urge FCC to stay and reconsider Ligado order
A bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the agency to stay and reconsider the Ligado Networks order.
U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led the group in sending the letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging her to reconsider granting Ligado’s license modification request.
Ligado wants to use a part of the communications spectrum in a way that risks interference with GPS reception, a move that has been decried by many industry insiders as well as other government agencies, including the departments of Defense and Transportation.
The timing of the letter is critical, as Ligado has announced its intention to deploy a terrestrial network as soon as Sept. 30. The National Academy of Sciences plans to release a report on the FCC’s order at a public online briefing at 11 a.m. ET Sept. 9. The report will be available at National Academies Press at that same time.
