Litigation Update: Property Rights in Spectrum and Ligado
What Does the Decision Mean and What is Next?
Event Video
What property rights, if any, does an FCC spectrum license confer? Long thought to be settled law, the question is raised anew by a takings case in the Federal Circuit pitting licensee Ligado against the Department of War. The Federal Circuit’s decision remanding the issue to the Court of Claims raises fundamental issues about the basket of rights that constitute a property interest, which of those rights attach to FCC spectrum licenses, and whether they are enforceable. In the balance is Ligado’s $40B takings claim against the government, but also the legal underpinnings of U.S. spectrum policy. Do FCC licenses protect value “spectrum real estate” or is our broadband economy built on a legal house of cards? Join our expert panelists for a discussion of these issues.
Featuring:
- Hon. John Kneuer, President and Founder, JKC Consulting LLC
- Ari Meltzer, Partner, Wiley Rein, LLP
- (Moderator) Andrew Lock
*******
As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.
