Keep GPS Working Coalition Issues Statement in Support of House Version of the RETAIN GPS and Satellite Communications Act

WASHINGTON (July 22, 2021)—The Keep GPS Working Coalition endorsed the Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary for GPS and Satellite Communications Act of 2021, introduced today by U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). The bill is a companion to Senate bill 2166 and was supported by six other bipartisan cosponsors on the day it was introduced.

Additional original cosponsors for the bill include Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.). The Senate version of the bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

The bill requires Ligado Networks to reimburse state and local governments, as well as businesses and consumers forced to replace their GPS receivers due to interference caused by the company’s proposed use of its L-Band spectrum, which was approved by a Federal Communications Commission order in April 2020. While the FCC’s decision requires Ligado to upgrade or replace federal government devices, it does not require Ligado to accept responsibility for the millions of other devices that will be affected.

Dale Leibach, spokesperson for the Keep GPS Working Coalition, said: “Thank you to Representatives Cooper and Turner for taking the lead on this important legislation, and to each Member of Congress that supported it as a cosponsor. Original sponsors of this bill and its Senate companion serve on committees focused on key economic sectors reliant on GPS including agriculture, aviation, financial services, infrastructure, small business, space and technology, defense and transportation.”

The Keep GPS Working Coalition was formed in response to a Federal Communications Commission order allowing Ligado Networks to operate a terrestrial wireless network that will threaten the reception capability of hundreds of millions of GPS devices. Coalition members include major associations representing vital economic sectors that rely on GPS including agriculture, aviation, boating, manufacturing, and transportation and infrastructure.

Media Contact

Dale Leibach

Spokesperson

dale@dleibachandassociates.com

202-365-4339