GPS Concerns Remain Following Latest LightSquared Proposal

Under its latest proposal, LightSquared would combine 5 MHz it controls at 1670-1675 MHz with the 1675-1680 MHz band (CD Nov 6 p14), which is allocated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for testing of weather balloons. LightSquared would have to share that spectrum with NOAA. As a federal agency, NOAA is unlikely to weigh in directly on that proposal, though could do so through NTIA, industry officials note.

The FCC needs to make sure that the proposal doesn’t harm GPS operations, the GPS Coalition said. “The Coalition has no desire to unnecessarily impede the further deployment of spectrum for wireless broadband, and, indeed, is willing to work with all relevant stakeholders to pursue that goal,” the coalition said (http://xrl.us/bn63if). “The Commission, however, must ensure that any conversion of spectrum for terrestrial broadband use represents sound spectrum management, does not jeopardize critical GPS services, and that any unresolved issues regarding interference to GPS are fully evaluated before terrestrial service is launched.” The FCC should change its rules only “after considering in depth the costs and benefits, and therefore, the overall public interest, in authorizing more extensive high-powered terrestrial operations in satellite spectrum closely adjacent to a critical public utility, GPS,” the group said.

Granting the LightSquared request would be premature, Lockheed Martin argued, especially since the FCC has not made a decision on whether to permanently revoke its early authorization, which would have allowed LightSquared to operate an LTE network over GPS objections. “At the very least, there is no present basis for the Commission to do more than accept LightSquared’s relinquishment of all terrestrial authority for the 1536-1559 MHz portion of the 1525-1559 MHz band -- without prejudice to the pending confirmation of the February 15 Public Notice’s proposal to confirm NTIA’s determination that terrestrial mobile broadband service cannot be feasibly provided at all in the 1525-1559 MHz band,” Lockheed Martin said (http://xrl.us/bn63mv).

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association opposed LightSquared’s proposal. AOPA “firmly supports” the FCC’s Feb. 14 public notice “recognizing that there is no practical way to mitigate potential GPS interference from LightSquared’s many proposals,” the group said (http://xrl.us/bn63m5). “AOPA therefore supports implementing the actions proposed in the Public Notice: vacating LightSquared’s Conditional Waiver Order, modifying LightSquared’s satellite license, and suspending indefinitely LightSquared’s ATC authorization. Aviation safety depends upon expeditiously resolving these outstanding issues, instead of allowing piecemeal, parallel proceedings involving other requests by LightSquared."

But the Competitive Carriers Association said getting more spectrum in the market as proposed by LightSquared is critical for smaller carriers. “Given CCA’s members’ current need for usable spectrum, the wholesale capacity, as LightSquared has indicated will be offered on its network, represents a potential alternative pathway to 4G, particularly for competitive carriers seeking a nationwide footprint and enhanced speeds, but facing additional, well-documented challenges in deploying their own 4G networks,” CCA said (http://xrl.us/bn63ku). “Such wholesale capacity, which LightSquared has indicated it will make available at rates lower than current prevailing rates, also promises to provide another way for smaller carriers to offer high-speed service capable of competing with the nation’s two largest wireless providers."

"We are encouraged by the fact that significant support for the alternate proposals has come in, and LightSquared remains committed to working with all stakeholders so that we can build a mobile broadband network to bring affordable, reliable and high-speed mobile connectivity to all Americans that will also protect GPS,” a LightSquared spokesman said Tuesday. “As the process continues to consider using alternative spectrum to achieve both these goals, we will continue to use our extensive experience coordinating operations with incumbent government users of that alternate spectrum, including using exclusions zones where necessary, so that all federal government and other incumbent users and systems remaining in the band are protected."

"I'm not sure how realistic” the LightSquared proposal is, said an industry official representing GPS interests. “We thought it was very unrealistic ... but we're thinking less so [now, because it] just seems to be sticking around and it seems to have some support. We continue to beat the drums that GPS must be protected.” LightSquared’s latest petition at the FCC didn’t offer a technical underpinning on which to offer comments, an attorney active in the proceeding said. “I don’t know of anything that has changed."

"LightSquared has gone to great lengths to accommodate the GPS community and other users, while searching for an alternative that would finally allow the construction of a nationwide network,” said Technology Policy Institute President Thomas Lenard, in a news release. “The Commission should approve the proposed license modification.”