NextNav Suggests CalChiefs Was Misinformed By Interest Groups

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2026 – Geolocation company NextNav said it was disappointed by California Fire Chiefs Association’s decision to pull its support, claiming the association was “misinformed by special interest groups.” 

Ed Mortimer, NextNav’s vice president of government affairs, published a statement Feb. 18 in response to CalChief’s decision, highlighting NextNav’s continuous goal of improving safety through geolocation solutions for first responders.  

In December 2025, the Federal Communications Commission granted NextNav an experimental license for a 5G GPS backup system in San Jose, Calif., that would supplement position, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals. CalChiefs initially strongly supported NextNav’s project due to PNT’s importance in public safety emergencies, but revoked its support about eight months later on Jan. 28, citing concerns about implementation frameworks and long-term safety considerations.