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Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-48 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) LightSquared Technical Working Group Report ) IB Docket No. 11-109 ) LightSquared License Modification Application, ) IB Docket No. 12-340 IBFS Files Nos. SAT-MOD-20120928-00160, - ) 00161, SES-MOD-20121001-00872 ) ) New LightSquared License Modification ) IB Docket No. 11-109; IB Docket No. 12-340 Applications IBFS File Nos. SES-MOD-20151231- ) 00981, SAT-MOD-20151231-00090, and SAT- ) MOD-20151231-00091 ) ) Ligado Amendment to License Modification ) IB Docket No. 11-109 Applications IBFS File Nos. SES-MOD-20151231- ) 00981, SAT-MOD-20151231-00090, and SAT- ) MOD-20151231-00091 ) ORDER AND AUTHORIZATION Adopted: April 19, 2020 Released: April 22, 2020 By the Commission: Commissioner Carr issuing a statement; Commissioners Rosenworcel and Starks Concurring and issuing a Joint Statement. TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph # I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 II. BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 3 A. Ligado’s MSS and MSS ATC Authorizations ................................................................................. 4 B. Ligado’s 2015 License Modification Applications and the Agreements with GPS Device Manufacturers .................................................................................................................................. 9 C. Ligado’s 2018 Amended License Modification Applications ....................................................... 15 III. DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................................................... 18 A. Public Interest Benefits .................................................................................................................. 19 B. Ligado’s Actions to Address GPS Harmful Interference Concerns Through Agreements with Major GPS Device Manufacturers ......................................................................................... 25 C. Approach for Evaluating Potential Harmful Interference to GPS Devices Other Than Certified Aviation Devices ............................................................................................................ 35 D. Potential Harmful Interference Concerns ...................................................................................... 60 1. Concerns regarding harmful interference to adjacent band GPS operations ........................... 64 a. Certified aviation GPS receivers ....................................................................................... 65 b. Non-certified GPS receivers ............................................................................................. 73 c. Ligado’s commitment to additional reporting, notification, and monitoring .................... 92 d. Ligado’s commitment to upgrade or replace U.S. Government devices and Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-48 related further conditions .................................................................................................. 96 2. Impacts to MSS Operations from Ligado’s Proposed Operations ........................................ 107 a. Concerns regarding harmful interference to Inmarsat’s MSS operations from Ligado’s downlink operations in the 1526-1536 MHz band .......................................... 107 b. Concerns regarding harmful interference to Iridium’s MSS operations from Ligado’s uplink operations in the 1627.5-1637.5 MHz and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz bands ............................................................................................................................... 112 E. Waiver of ATC “Integrated Service” Rule .................................................................................. 120 F. Spectrum Management Coordination with NTIA ........................................................................ 122 G. Compliance with Section 343 of the Communications Act ......................................................... 129 H. Conditions for ATC Authority ..................................................................................................... 131 1. Compliance with GPS Co-Existence Agreements................................................................. 133 2. Power Levels and Operating Restrictions ............................................................................. 134 3. Out-of-Band Emissions ......................................................................................................... 139 4. Notification and Coordination ............................................................................................... 144 5. Base Station Database, Drive-Testing, and Monitoring ........................................................ 147 6. Integrated Service Rule Waiver ............................................................................................ 150 7. Reporting Requirements ........................................................................................................ 151 IV. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................. 156 V. ORDERING CLAUSES ..................................................................................................................... 159 I. INTRODUCTION 1. Today we draw to a close a 17-year old proceeding by granting Ligado Networks LLC’s (Ligado’s) mobile satellite services (MSS) license modification applications, as amended.1 Our decision authorizes Ligado to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network in the 1526-1536 MHz, 1627.5- 1637.5 MHz, and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz bands that will primarily support Internet of Things (IoT) services. Our action provides regulatory certainty to Ligado, ensures adjacent band operations, including Global Positioning System (GPS), are sufficiently protected from harmful interference, and promotes more efficient and effective use of our nation’s spectrum resources by making available additional spectrum for advanced wireless services, including 5G. 2. Ligado’s amended license modification applications significantly reduce the power levels of its operations from its earlier proposals and commit Ligado to providing a significant guard-band in the MSS spectrum to further separate its terrestrial transmissions from neighboring operations in the Radionavigation-Satellite Service (RNSS) allocation. Based on the extensive record, we conclude that Ligado’s latest proposal—combined with the stringent conditions we adopt today—addresses harmful interference concerns with respect to GPS operating in the adjacent RNSS allocation,2 as well as concerns with respect to MSS licensees’ operations in the L-band. In sum, we find it is in the public interest to grant the modification applications to facilitate the deployment of a low power terrestrial-based network in its licensed MSS spectrum. 1 See generally Letter from Gerard J. Waldron, Counsel to Ligado, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, IB Docket No. 11-109, and Amendment to License Modification Applications (filed May 31, 2018) (Ligado May 31, 2018 Ex Parte and Ligado Amendment). 2 As discussed in this proceeding, GPS-enabled devices use signals received from the U.S.-based GPS satellites operating under the RNSS allocation in the 1559-1610 MHz band to provide position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. In recent years, GPS-enabled devices increasingly have been designed to also operate with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. As discussed below, in 2018 we authorized GPS-enabled devices that also operate with Galileo’s GNSS signals to operate in the United States. In today’s action, we also conclude that adjacent-band operations that include use of Galileo’s GNSS E1 signals in the same RNSS allocation in which GPS operates are sufficiently protected from harmful interference. See infra para. 90. 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 20-48 II. BACKGROUND 3. We currently have before us Ligado’s 2015 license modification applications,3 as amended in 2018, and technical studies supplied by Ligado purporting to demonstrate that these modifications address harmful interference concerns relating to GPS and other providers’ MSS operations. The genesis of this proceeding, however, dates back to 2003, when the Commission established rules to permit MSS licensees to seek authority to operate Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) stations.4 An ATC system consists of terrestrial base stations and mobile terminals licensed to the operator of an MSS system, which allow an MSS licensee to integrate ATC in their MSS networks for the purpose of filling-in gaps in the MSS coverage area, particularly in urban areas or inside buildings.5 A. Ligado’s MSS and MSS ATC Authorizations 4. Ligado is authorized to provide MSS in the 1525-1559 MHz and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz bands, with the lower band allocated for downlink transmissions (from MSS satellites to mobile earth stations) and the upper band for uplink transmissions (from mobile earth stations to MSS satellites).6 In 3 See Letter from Gerard J. Waldron, Counsel to New LightSquared, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, IB Docket Nos. 12-340 and 11-109; IBFS File Nos. SAT-MOD-20120928-00160, SAT-MOD-20120928-00161, and SES-MOD-20121001-00872 and