Deere’s Dispute Over Broadband Interference Resolved

A long-running legal dispute over how a wireless broadband network can share pockets of airwaves that also serve GPS systems has been resolved.

Deere was a central player in the dispute and its resolution.

LightSquared, which seeks to provide a nationwide, wireless broadband network that integrates satellite coverage, went into bankruptcy in 2012 after federal regulators refused to clear its plans. The regulators' decision was in response to warnings from Deere and others in the GPS industry that the broadband network could interfere with the GPS network.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association was among organizations who contacted the Federal Communications Commission to express concerns.

After the FCC ruling, LightSquared's biggest financial backer, Harbinger Capital, sued Deere, Garmin Ltd., and Trimble Navigation Ltd., claiming fraud and arguing that members of the GPS industry misled LightSquared about interference concerns and hastened its plunge into bankruptcy, Reuters reported.

In a flurry of developments last week, a federal appeals court upheld a decision rejecting Harbinger's claims, Deere reached an agreement with LightSquared, and LightSquared emerged from bankruptcy.

Doug Smith, LightSquared's Chief Executive, told the Wall Street Journal that the agreement with Deere "sets the framework that enables GPS and broadband to peacefully coexist."

In the agreement, LightSquared surrenders a portion of its spectrum, or pockets of airwaves that mobile-phone and internet companies use, and Deere does not object to LightSquared's deployment of its broadband network, the Journal reported. LightSquared also agrees to lock in lower power limits.

FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly made it clear during last week's events that GPS applications had to be protected moving forward.

"As the new LightSquared moves forward," O'Rielly said, "it should be clear that I have no intent to revisit the process circus that encircled the previous version of LightSquared. In particular, I will not be party to any effort to undermine any legitimate protections afforded to the Global Positioning System and its commercial users."  S