GPS World, August 2015
THE SYSTEM LightSquared Continued from page 7 broadband service proposed by LightSquared would interfere with GPS signals and associated positioning navigation and timing New LightSquared reportedly has 125 billion in operating funds to help make full use of its spectrum to provide existing and innovative services In a recent trial involving the assets of the bankrupt company the value of its spectrum bands was estimated at possibly 45 billion or higher GPS Industry Response The GPS Innovation Alliance responded in early July to media reports on LightSquareds position regarding the testing of the compatibility of terrestrial broadband and GPS Following is the GPS Innovation Alliances response The GPS Innovation Alliance GPSIA supports a consensus driven process including all government and non government stakeholders to clearly identify and address remaining technical issues raised by LightSquared proposals to repurpose mobile satellite spectrum for terrestrial broadband use The technical challenges posed by these proposals are formidable as evidenced by the conclusions of multiple U S government entities Specifically the U S Departments of Defense and Transportation and the NTIA have all found in the last several years that LightSquareds proposals have significant potential to interfere with GPS Contrary to LightSquareds recent suggestions this is not simply a private matter between three GPS companies and LightSquared but is important to all GPS users who rely on this critical technology every day The Department of Transportation has sponsored an ongoing effort to assess adjacent band issues and the GPS industry is actively engaged with the Federal Communications Commission FCC Department of Transportation DOT and other government stakeholders to drive consensus around next steps While we welcome the participation of LightSquared consultants any further analysis of the technical issues should be informed by input from all of the relevant stakeholders rather than the one off efforts of an interested party www gpsworld com August 2015 GPS World 9
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