|
|
FCC rejects LightSquared's proposed LTE network
(Urgent Communications Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) An ambitious plan by satellite communications firm LightSquared
to repurpose its 1.5 GHz spectrum for terrestrial LTE use will be
prohibited after the National Telecommunications and Information
Agency (NTIA) advised that the proposed network would interfere
with certain GPS devices, the FCC said in a statement
yesterday.
The FCC
adopted an order in January 2011, that allowed LightSquared to
build its LTE network utilizing its satellite spectrum that is
adjacent to the GPS band, on the condition that LightSquared's
deployment plans not interfere with GPS operations. Citing the
NTIA's findings, the FCC will vacate its order, according to the
statement released yesterday afternoon.
"NTIA, the federal agency that coordinates spectrum uses for the
military and other federal government entities, has now concluded
that there is no practical way to mitigate potential interference
at this time," FCC spokesperson Tammy Sun said. "Consequently, the
commission will not lift the prohibition on LightSquared."
In a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, NTIA
administrator Lawrence Strickling stated that even LightSquared's
proposal to utilize the lower 10 MHz of its spectrum its
airwaves with the greatest separation from the GPS band
would not alleviate interference to personal/general navigation GPS
receivers and would impact the functionality of "safety-critical"
GPS devices used in the aviation industry.
"We conclude at this time that there are no mitigation
strategies that both solve the interference issues and provide
LightSquared with an adequate commercial network deployment,"
Strickling's letter states.
The NTIA's findings were based on test results released last
month that LightSquared officials have claimed were
"rigged" to show that LightSquared's LTE plans would interfere
with GPS operations. In a statement released yesterday,
LightSquared said that it "profoundly disagrees" with the NTIA
recommendation but expressed hope that the FCC would rule to allow
the startup carrier to proceed with its LTE plans. Less than an
hour later, the FCC released its intention to block LightSquared's
terrestrial-deployment proposal.
If allowed to build out its LTE network, LightSquared was
prepared to invest $14 billion and create 100,000 jobs key
metrics in a struggling national economy while providing
wholesale services that would provide greater competition in a
cellular market increasingly dominated by Verizon and AT&T. But
not having an LTE component could jeopardize LightSquared's
existing satellite offerings, including its unique push-to-talk
capability that is used by public-safety and federal agencies.
"The satellite company, in and of itself, is not sustainable
over the long term we know that," Jeff Carlisle,
LightSquared's executive vice president for regulatory affairs and
public policy, said in an earlier interview with Urgent
Communications. "It's too small of a market to support the
capital investment needed to launch a new satellite every 15 years.
This is why you see a lot of satellite companies that have gone
through restructuring."
While the FCC and NTIA will block LightSquared's LTE plans,
statements from both federal agencies acknowledged the need for
regulatory clarity associated with efforts to utilize spectrum for
broadband. NTIA urged the FCC to consider actions to minimize the
negative impact that GPS receivers might have on this effort.
In its statement, the FCC said that federal lawmakers and
regulators need to reduce barriers that prevent the most efficient
use of airwaves.
"There are very substantial costs to our economy and to
consumers of preventing the use of this and other spectrum for
mobile broadband," Sun said in the FCC statement. "Congress, the
FCC, other federal agencies, and private sector stakeholders must
work together in a concerted effort to reduce regulatory barriers
and free up spectrum for mobile broadband. Part of this effort
should address receiver performance to help ensure the most
efficient use of all spectrum to drive our economy and best serve
American consumers."
Related Stories
LightSquared
asks FCC for GPS receiver rules
LightSquared claims GPS tests improper
LightSquared conclusions need to be based on complete data, not
leaks
Butting heads over abutting spectrum
The silver lining: LightSquared, GPS debate prompts spectrum policy
review
© 2012 Penton Media
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
|
|
|
|
TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
