LightSquared Wants FCC To Mandate GPS Interference Talks

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LightSquared, the company that three years ago was proposing a nationwide cellphone network whose signals were shown to disrupt GPS signals, is back. In a multibillion-dollar gambit that could reduce the cost of cell service, potentially at the expense of GPS, it’s also asking the FCC to force GPS companies to help solve the technical issues that killed its plans a few years ago. As we reported extensively at the time, LightSquared acquired a band of radio spectrum right next to the frequencies used by GPS satellites to broadcast timing information to GPS receivers. Because the cell signals are exponentially more powerful than the tiny GPS signals from space, they can effectively jam the GPS signals. After some controversy, the FCC suspended LightSquared’s application, forcing the company into bankruptcy. LightSquared is now emerging from bankruptcy and claiming there are technical and business solutions to the jamming issue. Specifically, it wants the FCC to force GPS giants Garmin, Deere (John Deere farm equipment) and Trimble to disclose the fine technical details of how their equipment is affected by the cell signals.

In an application to the FCC (PDF), LightSquared asked that the companies be forced to show it undoubtedly intensely proprietary data including “information regarding the receiver designs that concern them — specifically, information about antenna and software coding issues.” LightSquared also wants the FCC to order GPS companies to explain their economic concerns about its plans and require a face-to-face meeting between officials of LightSquared and the GPS companies to resolve the issues, including a lawsuit LightSquared filed against the companies over the denial of its first FCC application. LightSquared has also hired former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt as its attorney. An industry group says there should be a lot more companies, groups and government agencies involved in those talks. The GPS Innovation Alliance said the interference issues are “formidable” and have the potential to affect a huge swath of society. “This is not simply a private matter between three GPS companies and LightSquared, but is important to all GPS users who rely on this critical technology every day,” the group said in a statement.

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