As chief executive of the satellite-communications company Ligado Networks, I wish to emphasize that our proposed sharing of a small block of radio frequencies with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) will not jeopardize the delivery of weather information from satellites (see Nature 535, 208–209; 2016).

We are exploring this idea through open dialogue with the US Federal Communications Commission, NOAA and the weather community. The company was invited to discuss radio frequencies at an American Meteorological Society meeting last month, and feedback on our plan's potential impact is allowing us to home in on remaining concerns and discuss solutions.

We are also exploring an alternative network for providing real-time weather data to more users at a lower cost. This would protect NOAA's existing uses of the band and expand the availability of a high-demand wireless spectrum. Our technology could deliver reliable, secure connectivity to critical industries, including those that serve public safety.