The FCC and NTIA determined yesterday that
LightSquared service will interfere with GPS service.
The following is attributed to Harold Feld, legal
director of Public Knowledge:
“It is very unfortunate that the engineering studies did not find a
clear way forward to bring much needed spectrum to the public on a wholesale
basis. The number of contracts signed with LightSquared despite the doubts
surrounding whether they would be able to provide service demonstrates the
strong demand for some sort of non-discriminatory wholesale wireless service to
support competition and innovation. While it is possible that a way forward may
emerge from the comments in response to the FCC’s public notice, it would
appear that LightSquared will not fill this need for wholesale access any time
soon.
“This development makes it all the more imperative that the FCC
continue its work on GPS receiver standards, so that this valuable spectrum can
ultimately be used to meet our ever-growing demand for terrestrial wireless
services. In addition, the FCC should continue to explore new ways to promote
wholesale access to wireless — such as the pending Notice of Inquiry on
dynamic secondary markets.”