LightSquared Report Expected to Warn of Widespread Interference
A GPS Working Group report due to be delivered to the FCC Wednesday on LightSquared interference to GPS systems is expected to cite several potential problems if the company is allowed to offer terrestrial service in mobile satellite service spectrum. Members of a group writing the report were still working on the language, and several sources said Tuesday they don’t expect anything to be released much before a midnight deadline.
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All of the sub-teams are reporting serious, harmful interference, including the cellular team, one official said.
The 59 MHz of spectrum LightSquared hopes to make available on a secondary basis to various operators is among the most readily convertible to wireless broadband of all the bands mentioned in the National Broadband Plan. But the Department of Defense and others continue to warn of interference concerns because of the relative strength of LightSquared operations versus the relative weakness of GPS signals.
General Motor’s OnStar asked the FCC to order more tests before approving a waiver for LightSquared, in a filing on the eve of the submission of the release of the report. “OnStar understands that the Commission views promoting widespread broadband deployment as a top priority and does not seek to impede LightSquared’s business activities,” said the company, which relies heavily on GPS to make its service work.
OnStar said it remains “impartial” but is convinced more tests are needed. “After extensive discussions with other affected parties and rigorous testing of its equipment, OnStar has concluded that there has not been sufficient time to evaluate GPS interference issues or to consider real-world solutions.”
"We are working toward defining the problem,” said a LightSquared spokesman. “Now that we are defining the problem, it allows us to find a solution.”
The National PNT Engineering Forum released test results last week, which said that in recent tests all FAA receivers lost their GPS connection, the Garmin chipset in personal navigation devices lost its GPS solution and John Deere, U.S. Coast Guard and NASA receivers all saw problems.