Interference to satellite radio navigation spectrum

Reference:
http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/news/fcc-requested-authorize-a-terrestrial-service-that-has-potential-widespread-interfe

Seems a Company called LightSquared has petitioned the FCC for
permission to transmit on spectrum adjacent to GNSS L1band. The FCC
is apparently predisposed to grant LightSquared's request through a
fast track process. There will be no time allocated for testing.

Many comments have been filed .. mostly from a business viewpoint.
However, one comment with technical implications contends that
terrestrial originated LightSquared transmissions will operate too
close to L1 with respect to current state of art for designing
selectivity into miniaturized receivers. Receiver overload might
affect sensitivity impairing reception of the weak satellite signals.

Testing of this matter must account for the effects of LightSquared
signals while simultaneously tracking LI satellite signals of
operational and forthcoming systems.

--- CHAS

The U.S. GPS Industry Council filed comments on 15 Sep 2010:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=3D7020912452

" . . . The Council therefore respectfully recommends that the
Commission=92s efforts in this proceeding be implemented in a manner
that:

(1) preserves and codifies existing out-of-band emission (=93OOBE=94)
limits applicable to existing and planned MSS Ancillary Terrestrial
Component (=93ATC=94) services;

(2) takes into account the fundamental change in the harmful
interference to the RNSS receiver (affecting the receiver=92s ability to
function) arising from the dense deployment of newly proposed mobile
terrestrial broadband services; and

(3) ensures effective mitigation measures are in place that preserve
the utility of existing bands for the installed base of global
navigation satellite system (=93GNSS=94) users. . . .

Proposed Rules Governing Out-of-Band Emissions in the RNSS Band

=A725.xxxx* Out of Band Emission limitations in the Radionavigation-
Satellite Service Band.

(a) The requirements of this section govern the spectral
characteristics of emissions for all users affecting the
Radionavigation-Satellite Service. Users may use any type of emission
or technology that complies with the technical rules in this subpart.

(b) The power of any out of band emission falling in the
Radionavigation-Satellite Service (=93RNSS=94) at the 1559-1610 MHz
frequency range must be limited such that the EIRP density is
controlled.

(1) Mobile transmitters having intermittent transmissions shall limit
EIRP density for:
(i) Wideband emissions to no more than -95 dBW/MHz and ;
(ii) Narrowband emissions to no more than -105 dBW/kHz.

(2) Fixed or mobile base stations shall limit EIRP density for:
(i) Wideband emissions to no more than -100 dBW/MHz and;
(ii) Narrowband emissions to no more than -110 dBW/kHz.

(3) =93Femtocells=94 operating indoors shall limit EIRP density for
wideband emissions to no more than -111.7 dBW/MHz when one femtocell
is operating in a room and to -114.7 dBW/MHz when two femtocells are
operating in the same room."

The higher level search engine for FCC electronic filings:

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/

http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?z=3Dl28oe&name=3D10-142

The prime investor behind Lightsquared is Peter Falcone, a hedge fund
manager with deep pockets, profiled nearly 3 years ago in a Business
Week cover story:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_18/b4082034951866.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/08_18/b4082034951866.htm

"At his annual meeting in February in the ballroom of Manhattan's St.
Regis Hotel, Falcone explained to investors that he plans to focus on
'asset-rich companies with access to finite resources.' As Falcone
sees it, there's a limited supply of spectrum licenses, essentially
the legal rights to the airwaves used by wireless carriers like AT&T
(T), Sprint Nextel (S), and Verizon Wireless (VZ). But demand is
rising rapidly, Falcone notes, with people now paying more for their
mobile-phone service than their land lines. In his office, he keeps a
complex color-coded map that details all the different types of
spectrum in the world, including those for wireless, digital
television, radio, and satellite.

For the past two years, Falcone has been making a big play for
spectrum, either by buying stakes in companies that own it or by
picking up the licenses directly from firms willing to sell at low
prices. His holdings in such spectrum-rich companies as Terrestar
(TSTR), Inmarsat, and SkyTerra Communications (SKYT) account for
almost $2 billion, or 9%, of Harbinger's portfolio, according to
filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

There are signs the investments could pay off. A recent auction for
wireless spectrum sold licenses at a price more than six times higher
than the one Falcone paid for similar licenses half a year ago. 'I
don't know who will succeed [among the mobile-phone providers]. And I
don't care who succeeds,' Falcone says. 'All I know is that whoever
succeeds will need spectrum.' "

He doesn't care about communications, navigation, or anything else
technical. He looks at spectrum as a commodity.

The FCC, of course, should take a broader view.

HIPAR wrote:

terrestrial-service-that-has-potential-widespread-interfe

I sent an email to each of the FCC Commissioners questioning the fast
tracking and raising the possibility of interference with the GPS signals
and asking that the proposal be placed on a normal track so adequate testing
could be done --- here is their response:

------------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.

While some FCC-authorized and/or FCC-licensed radio frequency transmitters
contain a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver component, the FCC does
not regulate, enforce, or otherwise manage GPS.


A GPS receiver allows a user to receive GPS signals for determining the
user's location, time, and speed of motion.

GPS problems, including interference and other anomalies, should be reported
to the U.S. Coast Guard Navigational Center (NAVCEN) via their website at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/default.htm

On the website, see the clickable expression, "Please report GPS problems or
anomalies via our GPS report-a-problem page."
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Idiots!!!

e-a-te...


This matter has drawn the attention of DoD and consequently the NTIA.

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/filings/2011/NTIA_FCCletter_01122011.pdf

The NTIA coordinates spectrum issues for the federal government. They
coordinate with the FCC.

--- CHAS