Posted on 10/07/2011 6:51:38 AM PDT by pabianice
LightSquared is threatening legal action against the Federal Communications Commission if the agency does not grant the company approval to build a planned nationwide network of around 40,000 broadband towers that many experts warn will cause interference with GPS receivers.
LightSquared argues that any interference with high-precision GPS receivers from the company’s planned network is a result of GPS receivers “looking” for signals in the adjacent frequency band. In a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, the company argues that GPS manufacturers have ignored standards developed by the Defense Department to block reception of transmissions from nearby bands.
A spokesman said LightSquared has tried to conduct itself as a “good neighbor” to GPS receiver manufacturers and users, but nonetheless is prepared to take legal action if the FCC does not approve the company’s network after additional testing is completed. LightSquared claims that, according to FCC rules, GPS receivers are not entitled to protection from interference “if they are listening outside their band.”
The Coalition to Save Our GPS, an industry group, is fighting to block construction of LightSquared’s ground network, pointing out that when the company submitted its plan to the FCC, the network was touted as being based almost solely on satellite transmissions, not a large ground network in a band next to that of Global Position System receivers.
(Excerpt) Read more at flyingmag.com ...
Ping.
The fact that Berry actually personally invested in this company, and threatens national security makes this the #1 scandal IMO.
greedy, connected to obama, belligerent and lawyered-up
what a combination
National security, and every gps receiver in every consumer’s automobile.
Sounds pretty typical for this bunch :(
And boat, and plane, and backpack...... everything!
The difference between Dems, enviro wakcos, race hustlers etc. etc is they sue the crap out of the gov then get paid for the gov not being willing to fight to up hold the law, while the conservatives go to their jobs and let the rule of law be chipped away by those folks.
I’ve just been studying for my Amateur Radio exams. Different ranges of frequencies (”bands”) are allocated for different purposes. It is the responsibility of the transmitter to ensure that their signal is confined to their assigned band. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer of the receiver to ensure that their equipment picks up the correct frequencies and rejects incorrect ones. If these guy’s transmissions stay inside the band assigned to them they’ve got a case. If they interfere with the receipt of transmissions in other bands they don’t.
LightSquared’s lawyer will probably be Eric Holder, moon-lighting on government time.
They bought low power sattelite bandwidth, that is what they have the right to use it for.
They have no right to interfere the GPS in my phones, tablets and car nav not to mention every one else’s gear and the military.
They are a bunch of politically connected rat bastards.
I called my local litter box liner (Albuquerque Journal) and asked why I had not seen any mention of this story in my paper, or the story about the 4-Star General being asked by the White House to alter testimony to Congress regarding the effects of L2 on GPS. The managing editor of the Albuquerque Journal told me she had not heard of this story, or of the General being asked to change tesimony (he didn’t by the way). I just thought “WTF, are you kidding me? This should be front page news in every news paper in the country.” (and it would be if this were GW Bush and Halliburton!)
The question is, why/how are they interfering with the GPS in your phone?
If they’re doing it because their transmissions are on frequencies they should not be or if they are a secondary user of the frequency and GPS is primary, they are at fault.
If it’s because even though they are using the correct frequencies the GPS receivers are poorly designed anda re picking up frequencies other than those the GPS satellites send, they have a pretty good case.
If it’s not in the NYT people like that are ignorant of it. Although I think even the Times reported it so I’m pretty sure she was lying to you.
Yes, expensive filters could resolve the problem with GPS but they were not included because the adjacent frequencies were designated low power so they wouldn't cause interference.
What would the FCC do if a low power radio station decided to broadcast at 50,000 watts so they could make more money and it caused interference with established stations in the area? Would they make you replace every radio you already own, or would they enforce the original restriction in broadcast power?
From what I gather they bought the satellite bandwidth but want to use terrestial antennas as repeaters using that frequency to enhance broadband reception.
I think the frequency that is meant for satellites being amplified via terrestial antennas is what is causing the interference.
Some consider it a backdoor move to horn in on the expensive terrestial wifi network.
I understand it's more complicated than that, but when you get down to the nitty gritty I think that's the issue.
If the FCC placed restrictions on how much power could be used on those bands and this company is violating those restrictions then they’re going to lose, and deservedly so.
But - if they are staying within the power restrictions they’ve got a case.
At this point we need to see spelled out what the FCC’s actual regulations were when they issued LightSquared their licenses for the frequencies they’re using, and we need to see spelled out what LightSquared’s actual plans are for those frequencies. If the FCC set up regulations on those frequencies taking into account the limitations of consumer-based GPS receivers and LightSquared is gaming those regulations then I’ll side with LS’s opponents.
Bump for later.
They are not broadcasting yet. The rule is already in place. The studies have shown that if they do broadcast, they will interfere with existing GPS receivers.
The story is that they are using political connections to change the rules in their favor.
The rules are published, you can find them if you wish.
Fair enough. If they bought the rights to use a band with power restrictions and intend to violate the restrictions then they should fail.
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