FCC Turns Lights Out on LightSquared & Protects GPS Signals

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dealt what should prove to be a fatal blow to LightSquared’s attempt to bring a nationwide 4G broadband network to rural America. Following months of tests and attempts at a fix, LightSquared proved unable to keep its signal from interfering with global positioning system receivers, which are increasingly employed in farm machinery.

Besides agriculture, the network was also opposed by representatives of other GPS users including the U.S. military, aviation and emergency services.

While the FCC has changed its mind on LightSquared, one of the strongest critics, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has no intentions of backing down. He continues to press his request for FCC documents, and is refusing to lift the hold he has placed on FCC nominees, until the documents are provided. To Grassley the reversal is confirmation of his suspicions.

“The FCC’s action seems to acknowledge the point I’ve been making since April. Prematurely granting a conditional waiver in a rushed process is not the way to get the right result. Now that the interference issue is settled, we need to find out more than ever why the FCC did what it did,” Grassley said.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association opposed LightSquared’s threat to the nation’s GPS system and added our name to the Coalition to Save Our GPS, as did hundreds of other associations and interested businesses. Over the last year, thanks to the information provided daily by the Coalition, we were able to keep our members who were interested informed of the most current developments.