SIIA - Software & Information Industry Association
09/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/06/2024 12:47
SIIA Joins Over 70 Organizations in Opposing NextNav’s FCC Petition
SIIA Joins Over 70 Organizations in Opposing NextNav's FCC Petition
SIIA joins over 70 organizations in opposing NextNav's petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the reorganization of the 902-928 MHz band. The coalition argues that NextNav's proposal to create a 5G terrestrial-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) network could severely disrupt the operations of Part 15 unlicensed devices, which are critical across various industries. These devices, which rely on this frequency band, play a key role in sectors such as municipal infrastructure, utilities, railroads, and agriculture. The coalition stresses that current FCC rules requiring coexistence testing protect these devices from harmful interference, and eliminating these protections could cause significant disruption to both public and commercial operations.
The letter highlights how Part 15 devices drive productivity and safety in areas like smart home systems, tolling, retail operations, and agriculture. The coalition disputes NextNav's claim that the band is underutilized and expresses concern over the lack of technical analysis provided in the petition. They urge the FCC to maintain existing rules that safeguard Part 15 devices, allowing industries to continue benefiting from the band's reliable communication capabilities. Without these protections, innovations and essential services across multiple sectors could face widespread disruptions.