Amateur Radio Operators Concerned About NextNav PNT Proposal
ARRL, which represents amateur radio operators, opposed NextNav’s proposal to use lower 900 MHz spectrum for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) in reply comments on an FCC notice of inquiry (see 2505140017). Comments were posted this week in docket 25-110. “Many billions of unlicensed devices are in use to provide hundreds of applications and functionalities to the American public," and the numbers continue to grow, ARRL said: “These devices coexist with amateur radio operations in the 902-928 MHz band but they as well as amateur radio operations would be displaced if a 5G-like PNT service was authorized to use this spectrum.”
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Pearl TV argued that broadcast positioning system technology, as proposed by NAB (see 2504290042), is well suited as a backup for GPS. “BPS stands out as the leading terrestrial alternative since it is secure, resilient, and -- equally important during this period of spectrum scarcity -- it can be implemented without reallocating spectrum or raising any interference issues,” the broadcaster said.
Globalstar urged a focus on space-based solutions. “Working cooperatively with Globalstar, our partners have developed, tested, and deployed space-based non-GPS PNT solutions that can provide accurate, reliable PNT information when GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are unavailable, including in operating environments in which GPS/GNSS is subject to unintentional or intentional interference,” Globalstar said.