As a member of the Coalition to Save Our GPS, the Aircraft
Electronics Association is encouraging its members to make comments
to the Federal Communications Commission in response to
LightSquared's proposed plan to offer wireless broadband services
in radio frequency bands adjacent to those used by GPS receivers.
The information below is provided by the Coalition to Save Our GPS
and is helpful information to consider.
In January, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
conditionally allowed a company called LightSquared to offer
wireless broadband services in radio frequency bands adjacent to
those used by GPS receivers. Based on feedback from public and
private sector GPS users, the FCC told LightSquared that it could
not launch service until testing could be completed to determine
the extent of the problems that LightSquared would cause. The
report of that testing was submitted to the FCC on June 30, and it
showed that there would be massive interference to GPS from
LightSquared's proposed operations. The FCC has asked for feedback
from the public on the report. Comments will be taken until
Saturday, July 30.
AEA says that everyone who cares about GPS should let the FCC
know about the threat that LightSquared poses. In writing to the
FCC, we encourage you to cover the following points in your own
words:
How you use GPS technology in your business and/or personal
life.
What would happen to your business/personal life if GPS became
unavailable or unreliable.
While more capacity for wireless broadband services is
important, it should not come at the expense of GPS, which is
critical to our country's economy.
The results of the testing that were performed at the FCC's
request are conclusive -- they show that GPS reception would be
wiped out by LightSquared's proposed service.
Now that the test results have shown interference to GPS, the
FCC shouldn't allow LightSquared to keep trying out modified
versions of its plan to use the spectrum near the GPS band.
LightSquared's operations and GPS are fundamentally incompatible
and the FCC should order LightSquared out of that band.
The FCC has an easy-to-use portal on its website to submit
feedback on the testing results:
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