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- 08-10-2011
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> service to interfere with GPS signals, even though the potential interference
would be
> caused by GPS receivers picking up signals outside of their spectrum, a group
of FCC
> officials said Tuesday.
> The FCC, which is now trying to decide whether to allow LightSquared's mobile
broadband
> The FCC, which is now trying to decide whether to allow LightSquared's mobile
> proposal to move forward, recognizes the importance of GPS (Global Positioning
System) as
> a consumer service and as a service used by the military, airplanes and other
groups, the
> FCC officials said.
> The FCC won't allow interference with GPS, one official there said.
> But FCC officials who briefed reporters on background Tuesday also said that a
terrestrial
> The FCC won't allow interference with GPS, one official there said.
> But FCC officials who briefed reporters on background Tuesday also said that a
> broadband service has long been in the works for the spectrum bordering GPS
spectrum.
> LightSquared and its predecessor SkyTerra have been planning a mobile service
in the
> contested spectrum since 2003, the FCC officials said.
> The current interference fight is over GPS receivers that would pick up
interference from
> The current interference fight is over GPS receivers that would pick up
> cell towers operating outside of GPS spectrum, FCC officials said. Although
those receivers
> are operating in spectrum licensed by LightSquared, GPS is too important to
allow interference,
> the officials said.
> During recent interference tests, it was clear that GPS receivers were picking
up interference
> During recent interference tests, it was clear that GPS receivers were picking
> well beyond GPS spectrum, one FCC official said.
> LightSquared has asked the FCC for approval to operate a hybrid satellite and
land-based
> LightSquared has asked the FCC for approval to operate a hybrid satellite and
> LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile network. The company, which plans to sell its
network as
> a wholesale service, is waiting for approval while the agency examines
interference
> complaints from GPS groups.
> The Coalition to Save Our GPS, a group of vendors and users, has objected to
the LTE portion
> The Coalition to Save Our GPS, a group of vendors and users, has objected to
> of LightSquared's plan.
> LightSquared had hoped to begin offering dual-mode mobile handsets this year,
but FCC officials
> LightSquared had hoped to begin offering dual-mode mobile handsets this year,
> said Tuesday they had no timetable for finishing their review of the
interference questions.
> The FCC gave LightSquared conditional approval to move forward in January, as
long as its
> service did not interfere with GPS.
> The mobile startup has scrapped one spectrum proposal for the LTE portion of
its plan because
> The mobile startup has scrapped one spectrum proposal for the LTE portion of
> of the objections. LightSquared planned to offer LTE service using spectrum
between 1525
> and 1559 MHz, with its satellite service operating in part of the 1600 MHz
band.
> GPS uses spectrum from 1559 to 1610 MHz. Under the original LightSquared
proposal, it would
> have used spectrum up to 1555.2 MHz for LTE, but testing by U.S. agencies
showed significant
> interference problems.
> The current LightSquared proposal, released in June, would use only spectrum
from 1526 to
> The current LightSquared proposal, released in June, would use only spectrum
> 1536 MHZ for the LTE service, leaving a 23-MHz buffer zone between its mobile
broadband
> spectrum and GPS spectrum. A typical guard band between spectrum users is
about 2 MHz.
> The GPS coalition blasted the new proposal in a July filing. "The utter
failure of
> LightSquared's initial deployment plans to pass interference tests raises
fundamental
> questions about the representations LightSquared made to the FCC," the
coalition said.
> "The current strong indication is that whatever LightSquared told the FCC
prior to
> January 2011 was highly inaccurate, to a degree that verges on negligence."
> In the longer term, the FCC or Congress will have to decide whether a 23-MHz
guard band is
> In the longer term, the FCC or Congress will have to decide whether a 23-MHz
> good spectrum policy, FCC officials said. The LightSquared spectrum is
identified as new
> spectrum for mobile broadband in the FCC's national broadband plan released in
early 2010.
> The FCC doesn't want to lose the LightSquared spectrum for mobile broadband,
and it doesn't
> want to encourage 23-MHz guard bands as demand for mobile broadband spectrum
skyrockets,
> officials said.
> BY: GRANT GROSS
> IDG News Service
> 09 August 2011
> The U.S. Federal Communications Commission won't allow LightSquared's proposed