Fed ruling protects GPS users

The dreams of a company who wanted to develop wireless broadband integrated with satellites and ground stations have gone up in smoke. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has changed its mind and rescinded its earlier approval of the network after GPS enthusiasts peppered the government with concerns the network could wipe out GPS reception for many users across the country.

LightSquared, a Reston, Virginia company had planned to provided nationwide 4G broadband coverage, which included a plan to transmit computer-users' signals via satellite. The ground-based transmitter stations would have used a radio frequency close to those used by Global Positioning Satellite receivers. Even though the frequencies are different, GPS users said the powerful transmissions of LightSquared's network would overpower GPS devices, rendering them less effective to virtually useless.

LightSquared argued that GPS users would simply have to upgrade to new equipment that would not be affected by its broadband transmissions, asking the FCC to "approve a technical solution" to the issue. With over 100 million of the popular way-finding gadgets sold in the US in 2010, even if just half of users were adversely affected by LightSquared's signals, that's a lot of very unhappy users, expected to apply a costly "technical solution."

In the end the GPS community has apparently won the day. Although LightSquared has vowed to investigate an appeal of the FCC's ruling to nix their plan, the fallout from the ruling is already apparent. The company's CEO stepped down early this month, and late last month it was reported the company had defaulted on a $56 million spectrum-sharing payment. At this point it appears the only folks looking at a "technical solution" are those over in Virginia.