Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai says he personally spoke with Defense Secretary Mark Esper prior to the FCC approving Ligado Networks' controversial spectrum license, and Pai pushed back on Pentagon claims in a new letter to lawmakers.In a May 26 response to House lawmakers who questioned the FCC's unanimous decision made in April, including House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), Pai wrote the FCC "would never take an action that would compromise the safety and security of the American people." The Defense Department and other federal agencies have said Ligado's proposed network in the L-band poses an unacceptable risk to GPS signals.The FCC and Ligado argue the network will help advance America's rollout of fifth-generation (5G) telecommunications services."Our 5G FAST Plan emphasizes the importance of making more spectrum available for commercial use - it is a blueprint for the future - and our staff is constantly working to find more ways to maximize efficient use of spectrum for commercial use," Pai wrote. "Our work on the L-band is part of this effort."
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