LPPC Joins Energy Industry in Raising Concerns Over NextNav Spectrum Proposal
LPPC joined six national energy trade associations in urging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to engage with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over NextNav’s proposal to reconfigure the 902–928 MHz spectrum band, warning of potential impacts to critical energy infrastructure.
Electric, oil, and natural gas operators rely on the spectrum band for mission-critical communications supporting operational monitoring and control, outage and incident response, infrastructure management, and emergency operations. Electric utilities alone have identified more than 160 million devices that could be affected, with potential replacement or modification costs estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
The coalition urged DOE to work with the FCC and other federal agencies to ensure any spectrum changes fully protect communications systems essential to reliable energy operations. The letter also calls for a comprehensive technical record evaluating interference risks, operational and reliability impacts, and consumer costs before the FCC moves forward with a rulemaking.
LPPC joined the Edison Electric Institute, American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Public Power Association, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in signing the letter.
