NextNav Urges FCC to Advance Rulemaking on 5G-Based GPS Backup

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2025 – NextNav has urged the Federal Communications Commission to move quickly on its petition to authorize 5G-based positioning, navigation, and timing services in the lower 900 MegaHertz (MHz) band. 

The company argued that the United States was overdue for a resilient complement to GPS, or global positioning service. In particular, it seeks one that works indoors, where satellite signals routinely fail and where the lack of reliable location information has contributed to firefighter deaths.

But a coalition representing the top fire, law enforcement, and emergency communications groups has pushed back, warning that the proposal could destabilize life safety systems that millions of Americans rely on today.