RESTON, VA. – October 7, 2025 – Yesterday, USTelecom—The Broadband Association, the leading trade association for America’s broadband industry, filed an amicus curiae brief in support of arguments put forward by Ligado Networks (“Ligado”) in its case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. USTelecom’s filing emphasizes that the Court’s decision will have sweeping implications for U.S. spectrum policy, warning that if FCC licenses are not treated as property rights protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Takings Clause, it could undermine billions of dollars in private investment and weaken American competitiveness.
The amicus brief follows Ligado’s brief filed last week, which details how the Department of Defense unlawfully occupied spectrum the FCC had unanimously approved for Ligado’s 5G use after a rigorous, multi-year review. The Court of Federal Claims has already ruled that Ligado properly alleged that the U.S. government engaged in physical, categorical, and regulatory takings of its exclusively licensed spectrum.
“The court’s decision on appeal will have consequences not just for Ligado, but for the broader telecom industry and the businesses that depend on stable spectrum rights. The filing by USTelecom highlights this important point,” said Doug Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer for Ligado Networks. “American businesses depend on FCC spectrum licenses as secure property rights, and that certainty fuels investment and innovation. We look forward to presenting our case and securing a clear ruling that affirms those rights that underpin critical investment by the industry.”
In its filing, USTelecom states that “If the government can occupy or nullify FCC-licensed spectrum without compensation, it would undermine the very foundation of America’s spectrum policy—chilling private investment, destabilizing decades of regulatory certainty, and eroding U.S. leadership in broadband innovation.”
“The communications industry relies on the certainty created by an FCC license. This precedent of almost 100 years has fueled hundreds of billions of dollars in investment in communications networks that rely on secure spectrum rights,” said Ivan Seidenberg, Ligado Board Member and former Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “If those rights are not secure and can be taken without compensation as the government has argued, investment slows, and innovation suffers. Protecting spectrum is not just about these licenses – it is fundamental to American competitiveness.”
“As chairman, I was proud to award the initial licenses for the digital cellular industry. None of the recipients could have imagined that the government later would take the licenses back and offer no compensation – if that were the rule of law, they never would’ve invested the hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructure spending that followed from the awards,” said Reed Hundt, Ligado Board Member and former FCC Chairman.
The Government will have until November 21 to file a reply brief.
About Ligado Networks
Building on more than 25 years of experience providing mobile satellite services, our mission is to advance the next era of connectivity for the businesses, people, and places that need it most. Our satellite and terrestrial solutions, combined with powerful, lower mid-band spectrum, serve to supplement and broaden mobile coverage across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.ligado.com.
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Ligado Networks Media Contact: media@ligado.com