1/7/2012
LightSquared made the next legal move amid the ongoing radio spectrum row between the Reston, Virginia-based company and some GPS equipment manufacturers. LightSquared has formally asked the Federal Communications Commission to validate its right to use the spectrum that has been licensed to the company by the federal government.
The company also stated that it wants the FCC to corroborate its position that commercial GPS makers have no right to interference protection from the company’s network.
LightSquared has maintained its position for some time that GPS equipment manufacturers are utilizing spectrum beyond what is allowed them. The company’s petition will drive that argument with the FCC.
In a press statement revealing the petition, LightSquared’s vice president of regulatory affairs and public policy, Jeff Carlisle, said, “The one inescapable conclusion from two rounds of independent testing is that the incompatibility problem is not causes by LightSquarde’s network. It is clear that GPS devices are purposefully designed to look into LightSquared’s licensed spectrum, and given this evidence, we believe decision-makers should consider LightSquared’s legal rights as the licensee.”
He also stated that the company was authorized by the FCC to develop its network almost a decade ago and that the original permit was endorsed by the GPS industry. “Commercial GPS device makers have had nearly a decade to design and sell devices that do not infringe on LightSquared’s licensed spectrum,” said Carlisle.
The biggest point of contention is the company’s request to validate its position that GPS makers have no right whatsoever to interference protection. It has long been maintained by the Save Our GPS coalition that LightSquared needs to pay for any changes to existing receivers prior to implementing its new network.
