GPS Community Urged to Contact Congress Regarding FCC Proposal

January 20, 2011

Members of the GPS community who are concerned by a proposal pending before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and who fear that the broad public utility of GPS may be at risk, urge all colleagues to contact their Congressional representatives immediately, to advocate for a fully independent technical study by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) and other Federal agencies before the FCC takes any action.   

The matter concerns the potential for harmful interference to the GPS signal, which may result from an application to the FCC from a company called LightSquared, for modification of its authority for ancillary terrestrial component. The company has asked the FCC (see earlier related story) to grant it permission to broadcast a co-primary terrestrial wireless service in the L-band frequencies typically reserved for space systems and radio navigation satellite services (RNSS). LightSquared wants to broadcast in those frequencies from powerful terrestrial transmitters, reallocating from space to a terrestrial broadband service that could effectively overlay the GPS signal for millions of users in large metropolitan areas, where Lightsquared seeks to operate its service across the United States.

In a recent development, the FCC may have decided not to follow the Administrative Procedures Act and consider LightSquared’s fast-track waiver request under an open and transparent rule-making so that all affected parties can comment — perhaps. Now it appears that the FCC could grant a waiver to LightSquared, granting its request for a terrestrial wireless broadband service, but condition the service going operational on interference studies being done.

In a January 6 letter to the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), LightSquared states that “the application that we filed with the FCC. . . requires quick favorable action so that we may continue to roll out our network.” As to concerns that have been raised about the potential for widespread interference to GPS, the company makes an offer: “Accordingly, LightSquared will organize and lead an industry group . . . to examine the issue of interference to GPS devices, . . . and will consider both short-term and long-term solutions to the issue . . . FCC and NTIA officials, as well as representatives of relevant federal agencies will be invited to participate and/or observe the workings of the group . . . To support this group and fund its work, including testing and analysis, LightSquared will commit up to $20 million dollars. . . . LightSquared believes this proposal can prove to be a model of responsible spectrum management and facilitate the prompt deployment of LightSquared’s terrestrial-broadband services to the American public.”  

Voices within the GPS community have asked, “What happened to independent, third-party, unbiased technical analysis for fact-based rule-making? Which use of GPS will be selected a winner and which GPS uses will lose, in a study organized and led by the interested party? There are several Federal agencies who use GPS and whose constituents use GPS. But the LightSquared study proposes to invite “relevant” federal agencies to participate and/or observe the workings of the industry group.”

These parties further advocate, “First do an independent interference analysis, and then put it out for public comment so we all know what could happen! The stakes are too high to ensure that the nation’s broadband agenda does not get a black eye and that the nation’s GPS utility is not harmed. Ask your Congressional representative to contact the FCC Chairman directly or the Chairman of the Senate and House Commerce Committee and Ranking Member listed below (include the FCC File No. SAT-MOD-20101118-00239 in all, letters, e-mails, faxes and phone calls).”

“Approving LightSquared’s waiver conditioned on the outcome of technical studies can distort investment and create regulatory uncertainty for both the GPS utility and mobile broadband. This creates an uncertain regulatory environment because the FCC is approving the waiver without understanding what mitigation options are required, or are even possible. If you do not have access to e-mail, you can fax messages to each member and to the Full Committee staff.”

  The United States Senate Commerce Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is chaired by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WA), senator@rockefeller.senate.gov, and the Ranking Member is Senator Kaye Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), http://hutchison.senate.gov/.   

Always include the FCC File number of the proceeding in any communication: FCC File No. SAT-MOD-20101118-00239.

Interested parties may also call the Senate Subcommittee staff and state that you would like to send a message, asking what is the most appropriate means, e-mail or fax?

  Full Senate Committee Office: 

Majority: 202-224-0411 

Minority: 202-224-1251

  Internet: http://commerce.senate.gov/

  Fax: (202)228-0303    

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is chaired by Representative Fred Upton (R-MI), tellupton@mail.house.gov, and the Ranking Minority representative is Henry Waxman (D-CA), http://www.house.gov/waxman/.

  Full House Committee Office:  (202) 225-2927  

Fax: (202) 225-2525  

E-mail: energy commerce@mail.house.gov

  Internet: http://energycommerce.house.gov/