GPS Signal Interference in US

[Hud3]

Not unexpected that the money interests aren't going down without a fight. From the Wall Street Journal this morning...

Philip Falcone, the money manager who has staked his hedge fund on wireless network start-up LightSquared Inc., has hired lawyers to map out a strategy to overcome a regulator's decision blocking the network's launch. Hedge funds that own some of LightSquared's $1.6 billion of loans have also sought advice on possible litigation.


The lawyers are investigating the merits of a potential suit against the Federal Communications Commission, which this week rejected

LightSquared's plan for a broadband network, and the Global Positioning System industry. GPS companies and Defense Department officials have argued that LightSquared's signal could interfere with their networks.

[osirissail]

Make that "possible fight" as "map out strategy" and "also sought advice" are highly conditional and preliminary steps considering that they are going to have to go up against the DoD and FAA and all the other present users both ordinary and those providing emergency services based on GPS - I think the "advice/strategy" will be to find some other spectrum or just eat the loss. - - But never say never when it comes to politics and money . . .

[Opie91]

Politics is about the only thing that will get this going again. I would say we are safe for now, but who know after November......

[sandy daugherty]

I CRY FOUL. The FCC's ballot box is being stuffed.
I have reviewed several hundred comments submitted to the FCC and find that the bulk of favorable comments. those asking LightSquared be permitted to continue, are bogus. While their email addresses are not available to trace,(a very simple process)several key indicators are apparent. Grammar errors are not those commonly encountered in letters from the public to government officials. Common names are being used, without middle initials. Intentional misspellings are frequent and repeated. First names are misspelled; Jaun for Juan, Marry, Jroge for Jorge. Moderators here at Cruiser's Forum (experienced at detecting bogus emails) could have more to say about the little alarms raised by these errors!
We must act. Write, and re-write the FCC, and demand that emails be scrutinized.

[osirissail]

If you are interested in the LTE - LightSquared GPS debacle - here is a good link: LightSquared's troubles continue, company defaults on $56M payment to Inmarsat -- Engadget

Of side interest - did you know that the salad and other vegetables you are eating, ate, etc. are grown with GPS?

I came upon a Florida Agriculture Magazine in the doctor's office yesterday (seems all the arcane and strange magazines find their way to various doctor's offices) and in it is an article about how "modern" agriculture is using GPS to plant, fertilize, weed, water and harvest vegetables using machines and equipment guided by GPS.

[Opie91]

More LightSquared news......

LightSquared Files Chapter 11 'To Resolve Regulatory Issues' - Forbes

[hellosailor]

"LightSquared has developed equipment that doesn’t interfere on the GPS frequencies, but GPS signals are so faint that it is difficult to design navigation receivers that can hear the signals within the narrow band allocated to that service." [Forbes]

So, L2 has bought spectrum that is suitable for their purpose, and their eqipment does not interfere with other existing licensed services/users, except, when those other uses have sold equipment which is defective.

Um, yes, I would call all of the equipment in question defective, because it cannot work in the intended manner (with GPS signals) if there is a signal on *other* frequencies which have nothing to do with the GPS system.

I would say that because the existing body of GPS equipment is so valuable, the FCC and ultimately Congress have to let the defective equipment stand, as ordering the replacement of it would probably put most of the industry out of business.

Which leaves the most effective relief as injuctive relief, i.e. Congress would order the FCC to give L2 another block of suitable spectrum, and order the GPS industry to make some cash contribution for damages as well.

Could just be. There are all sorts of legal obligations here and the courts have not yet had the final word.