Federal Communications Commission	FCC 20-48


STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR

Re:	LightSquared Technical Working Group Report, IB Docket No. 11-109; LightSquared 
License Modification Application, IBFS Files Nos. SAT-MOD-20120928-00160-00161, 
SES-MOD-20121001-00872, IB Docket No. 12-340; New LightSquared License 
Modification Applications, IBFS File Nos. SES-MOD-20151231-00981, SAT-MOD-
20151231-00090, SAT-MOD-20151231-00091, IB Docket Nos. 11-109, 12-340; Ligado 
Amendment to License Modification Applications, IBFS File Nos. SES-MOD-20151231-
00981, SAT-MOD-20151231-00090, SAT-MOD-20151231-00091, IB Docket No. 11-
109. 

America’s economic and national security depend on the private sector building the strongest 5G platform in the world right here in the U.S.  And since the start of 2017, we have executed on a concrete plan to achieve that goal.  We have modernized infrastructure rules so that the private sector can build 5G networks at an accelerated clip.  And we have freed up the large swaths of spectrum needed to power next-gen applications.  Today’s decision builds on the unmistakable momentum America now has for 5G.

After a thorough and multi-year review, the FCC’s professional staff of engineers and other experts determined that we can advance America’s 5G leadership while protecting GPS and other adjacent band services.  I welcome and support their determination.  At the same time, this is not a decision that anyone at the FCC took lightly.  Government and private sector stakeholders alike expressed earnest and differing views on the merits of Ligado’s proposal.  Perhaps that is why FCC leadership passed on reaching a final decision in this proceeding for so long.  From Chairman to Chairwoman to Chairman to Chairman, when agency leadership turned over, they would hand their successor two things: the gavel and the Ligado proceeding.  I am pleased that Chairman Pai showed the leadership to bring a final decision forward for a vote.

To gain the FCC’s approval, Ligado made significant modifications to its original proposal, including greatly reduced power levels, the addition of new guard bands to protect and provide even more spectrum separation to adjacent services, and reaching co-existence agreements with manufacturers of high-precision GPS receivers.  Our decision today also includes extensive additional protections to adjacent band operations, including requirements for Ligado to perform drive tests and 24/7 monitoring of transmit power levels, among other detailed protection mechanisms.  These firm commitments coupled with the FCC’s detailed review of numerous technical studies enabled our engineers to recommend that the Commission allow the private sector to put this spectrum to a higher and more productive use.

The public interest benefits in proceeding today are borne out by the broad and bipartisan support we now see—from Attorney General Bill Barr to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, from Senator Ron Johnson to Senator Mark Warner, from Representative Billy Long to Representative Doris Matsui.  In fact, studies show that allowing the private sector to combine this mid-band spectrum with other airwaves already targeted for 5G builds will produce a more robust and cost-effective network in the U.S.  That is a good win for the country, and it is one that will further extend America’s leadership in 5G, IoT, and other next-gen applications.
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