>From the WSJ: ===============
LightSquared's Wireless Network Interferes With GPS By AMY SCHATZ WASHINGTONLightSquared's plan to launch a new national wireless broadband network faces a setback as preliminary tests suggest the start-up's network could knock out some GPS systems. Reuters Harbinger's Philip Falcone shown at an investor conference last month. LightSquared's interference problems could slow down FCC approval of its new network and create problems for other companies including its primary financial backer, Harbinger Capital Partners, the hedge fund led by Philip Falcone. Harbinger and its affiliates have put $2.9 billion of assets into LightSquared, according to a LightSquared statement. Harbinger has run into a series of other problems recently, as investors have withdrawn money and regulators have probed certain of the firm's trades from several years ago as well as a loan made by the fund to Mr. Falcone in 2009, which has been repaid. The company has said it is cooperating with regulators The airwaves Lightsquare uses are located close to the airwaves used by satellite navigation systems, and GPS usersparticularly the military and policeworry the company's plan to install 40,000 antennas around the country will overpower GPS signals. GPS signals are used for navigation and location systems for vehicles, aircraft and defense and public-safety agencies. LightSquared has signed deals with a number of companies, including Best Buy Co. and Leap Wireless International Inc., to offer wholesale wireless Internet service, and had originally planned to launch limited service later this year. Delays for LightSquared also could be a problem for AT&T Inc., which has cited LightSquared as a viable competitor to regulators in the antitrust review of its $39 billion deal to acquire T-Mobile USA. LightSquared officials acknowledge their network could knock out some GPS systems but say that they've developed technical fixes that could solve the problem. "LightSquared and GPS can and will be able to coexist peacefully," said Jeff Carlisle, LightSquared's executive vice president for regulatory affairs and public policy on Wednesday. "We're committed to identifying and resolving the issues through this process." Later this month, the company and GPS makers are scheduled to deliver a planned report to the Federal Communications Commission about any interference issues that arose from tests held recently in New Mexico. Public safety officials near the testing area reported LightSquared's tower knocked out their GPS systems in some areas, according to Bill Range, New Mexico's E-911 program director, in a letter to federal officials. On Friday, construction giant Deere & Co. also reported to the FCC the risk of "severe interference" on its tractors GPS systems from as far as 20 miles away from a LightSquared tower and "a complete loss of service" between four miles and 22 miles. Initial, unofficial tests by GPS users suggest that high-performance GPS equipment used by the aviation, defense and other industries would be more likely to be hobbled by LightSquared's network than the cheaper devices used by most consumers. If existing GPS equipment needs to be fixed to avoid interference, it's not clear who would pay for those alternations. LightSquared's airwaves were originally set aside for satellite use but in January the FCC agreed to allow the company to build a terrestrial-only network. LightSquared plans to operate a wholesale network that would lease airwaves to other carriers that want to offer high-speed wireless Internet service. Earlier this year, the Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies raised concerns to the FCC about approving LightSquared's new network. A group of 34 Senators also sent the agency a letter on May 19 raising concerns about the issue, after lobbying by the GPS community. -John ================ _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.