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Assuming you have been following the LightSquared story over the last year or two let me offer some comments on yesterdays hearing on the matter.
The House Armed Services Committee hearing was to focus on the impact the company would have on national security since the Defense Department and the military use GPS and could suffer interference.
The hearing was to have FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski speaking and answering questions.
Since the FCC Chairman was a no-show the hearing transformed itself into a very scary place. Michael Turner, the Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee started the hearing by nailing Genachowski for failing to appear. He said, “I consider the Chairman’s failure to show up today to be an affront to the House Armed Services Committee.”
There were questions about how the FCC could decide to grant LightSquared a conditional waiver for their LTE network in spectrum right next to the GPS band.
LightSquared is blocked from rolling out its network until the GPS problem is resolved.
They said the FCC process was irregular and pointed to letters sent by the Defense Department and the NTIA on the impact on GPS.
No one yet knows where this whole thing is heading, but to tell you the truth, it is getting as sticky as a broken bottle of honey all over the kitchen counter.
It is being handled poorly on all fronts including LightSquared the company and the FCC’s position in all of this.
If there wasn’t so much money involved and so much to protect in the GPS area this would almost be funny.
The way things look right now I would say it might be quite a while before LightSquared is ever allowed to roll out their network.
Which would be a shame because the wireless industry needs a solution like they want to provide. Other companies with other ideas should enter the fray.
Of course things could change. We’ll have to keep our eye on this and watch it develop.
Contact:
Jeff Kagan
Telecom Industry Analyst
Colorful industry analyst sharing perspective on the changing industry for 25 years
770 579 5810
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Jeff KaganTitle: Tech Analyst ~ Telecom Industry Analyst
Jeff Kagan
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Marietta, GA 30066
Phone: 770 579 5810
Email: jeff@jeffkagan.com
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