Land Surveyor Forum

   LightSquared's plan to launch a new national wireless broadband network could prove to be a real problem to actual GPS systems users and makers.

   Just a few hours ago and according to Amy Schatz from "The Wall Street Journal" webpage (wsj.com), "...Wireless broadband startup LightSquared and a GPS industry group will tell federal regulators in a report due Wednesday that recent joint tests of the company's network showed widespread interference with GPS receivers...".(http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303848104576385984130230462.html...TODAY)

   Looks like, since the "unofficial preliminary" tests reports from some of the mayor GPS systems users and makers like Deere & Co., General Motors Co. subsidiary OnStar and Trimble Navigation Limited (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576359393184395736.html?KEYWORDS=AMY+SCHATZ...on 06/02/2011), LightSquared is going to face a lot of resistance to their scheduled launch for their new national wireless broadband network. We can include also the along with the Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration, which is planning to upgrade the U.S.'s existing air traffic control system to one that relies on GPS technologies.

   Apparently, LightSquared is having pressure from other companies like its primary financial backer, Harbinger Capital Partners and its affiliates who had invested $2.9 billion on assets into wireless communication company.

   A total of 17 Democrats and 49 Republicans from The White House have written a letter to the FCC “...to protect global positioning systems from interference from wireless broadband start-up LightSquared..." last month (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/06/07/house-members-take-gps-worries-to-fcc/?KEYWORDS=AMY+SCHATZ...on 06/07/2011). Basically, they are requesting the FCC to approve the offering of their services ONLY if it can be "indisputably" proven that there will be no GPS interference. There are still no-comments from an FCC spokesman.