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Review of FCC Order 20-48 Authorizing Operation of a Terrestrial Radio Network Near the GPS Frequency Bands

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This study will review Federal Communications Commission order FCC 20-48, which authorized Ligado Networks LLC to operate a low-power terrestrial radio network adjacent to the Global Positioning System (GPS) frequency band. It will consider how best to evaluate harmful interference to civilian and defense users of GPS, the potential for harmful interference to GPS users and DOD activities, and the effectiveness and feasibility of the mitigation measures proposed in the FCC order.

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Description

As requested in section 1662 of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act, an ad hoc committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will provide “an independent technical review of the order and authorization adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on April 19, 2020 (FCC 20-48),” which authorized Ligado Networks LLC to operate a low-power terrestrial radio network adjacent to the Global Positioning System (GPS) frequency band.

The study will consider:

(1) Which of the two prevailing proposed approaches to evaluating harmful interference concerns -- one based on a signal-to-noise interference protection criterion and the other based on a device-by-device measurement of the GPS position error -- most effectively mitigates risks of harmful interference with GPS services and DOD operations and activities.

(2) The potential for harmful interference from the proposed Ligado network to mobile satellite services including GPS and other commercial or DOD services including the potential to affect Department of Defense (DOD) operations, and activities.

(3) The feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness of the mitigation measures proposed in the FCC order with respect to DOD devices, operations, and activities.

The committee’s final report(s) will include the Academies findings and recommendations with respect to these issues as well as other related issues the study committee determines relevant.

The bulk of the technical analysis is expected to be performed based on public reports and open science and engineering literature and practice and result in an entirely unclassified report. This unclassified report is also expected to provide most, or all of the analytical framework needed for assessing the impact on classified systems and capabilities.

Appropriately cleared members of the study committee will receive classified briefings and, if they determine it necessary, will prepare a classified annex.

Contributors

Committee

Chair

Member

Member

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Member

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Jon Eisenberg

Staff Officer

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Conflict of Interest Disclosure

The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

Dr. Nambirajan Seshadri has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on Review of FCC Order 20-48 Authorizing Operations of a Terrestrial Radio Network Near the GPS Frequency Bands because of his ownership of stock in Verizon Communications. The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one expert who possesses substantial recent experience in the engineering of cellular phones and portable GPS devices. As described in his biographical summary, Dr. Seshadri has extensive recent experience in research and engineering leadership positions at several communications technology firms where he led practical implementation of both cellular and GPS services in chipsets and handheld devices. The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Dr. Seshadri is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable. The National Academies believes that Dr. Seshadri can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.

Dr. Mark Psiaki has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on Review of FCC Order 20-48 Authorizing Operations of a Terrestrial Radio Network Near the GPS Frequency Bands because he consults for and receives research support from NAL Research Corporation, which designs and manufactures communications systems that use the satellite network owned and operated by Iridium Communications Inc. The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one expert who possesses substantial current expertise in Global Positioning System/global navigation satellite systems signals processing, radio navigation, and mobile satellite services. As described in his biographical summary, Dr. Psiaki has extensive practical experience in mobile satellite services (MSS) and radio navigation and GPS and GNSS signal processing, including his current advisory work on MSS device solutions at NAL Research Corporation. The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Mark Psiaki is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable. The National Academies believes that Mark Psiaki can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.

Committee Membership Roster Comments

The chair of the committee, Dr. J. Michael McQuade was posted on 7/12/2021. The entire committee is being posted on 8/31/2021. With the addition of new members Mark Psiaki and J. Scott Stadler, the roster has been updated as of 11/18/2021.

Sponsors

Department of Defense

Staff

Jon Eisenberg

Lead

Ryan Murphy

Lead

Gregory Mack

Lead

Shenae Bradley

Katiria Ortiz

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