LightSquared: 1, High-Precision GPS: 0

July 14, 2011

At stake is the high-precision GPS industry as we know it. If LightSquared’s current proposal is approved by the FCC, it will render tens of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands of GPS receivers obsolete starting as early as next year. The FCC is accepting public comments until July 30 and replies to those comments until August 15. After the public comment period is closed, the FCC can render a decision at any time. Last weekend, I spoke alongside LightSquared and the Coalition to Save Our GPS in a two-hour panel discussion at the Esri Survey Summit in San Diego. Here’s my report.

This article is tagged with high-precision, LightSquared, Survey Scene and posted in Opinions, Survey

U.S. Defense, Transportation Say Keep Wireless Comm Away from L-Band

July 9, 2011

The U.S. Departments of Defense and Transportation declared their strong opposition to the LightSquared proposal for a nationwide broadband service immediately adjacent to GPS signals. They asked the FCC to withhold authorization for the company to commence commercial service per its proposed deployment of a terrestrial service within the 1525-1559 MHz bands.

This article is tagged with Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, LightSquared, wireless infrastructure and posted in Mobile

Final Report of FCC Working Group: Lose LightSquared from L-Band

July 6, 2011

“Based on the analysis performed, LightSquared should not be permitted to use the L-Band spectrum for a densely-deployed, non-integrated terrestrial-only network. Such a network would cause unacceptable interference to GPS operations, wiping out an installed base of over 500 million units used in a wide array of public safety, aviation, industrial and consumer applications. While mitigation techniques utilizing filters were discussed in theory, they could not be tested as part of the WG effort because filters do not exist, even in prototypes. No information considered by the WG demonstrated that any mitigation techniques — other than relocation of the proposed terrestrial network to an alternative band — would be successful.” (From the U.S. GPS Industry Council’s overview of the WG report)

This article is tagged with FCC, LightSquared and posted in GNSS, OEM

presented by Nam D. Pham, Ph.D., of NDP Consulting, during a June 21 webinar sponsored by the Coalition to Save Our GPS.

The Economics of Disruption: $96 Billion Annually at Risk

July 1, 2011

“The Economic Benefits of Commercial GPS Use in the United States and the Costs of Potential Disruption” was presented by Nam D. Pham, Ph.D., of NDP Consulting, during a June 21 webinar sponsored by the Coalition to Save Our GPS. The report states: “The direct economic benefits of GPS technology on commercial GPS users are estimated to be over $67.6 billion per year in the United States.

This article is tagged with GNSS industry, GPS interference, LightSquared, market research and posted in GNSS

Out in Front: The Daughter of Time

July 1, 2011

“Truth,” wrote Sir Francis Bacon, “is the daughter of time.” He meant that any account, repeated often enough by different people in different places, at different junctures, eventually becomes accepted as historical fact, or truth, by those with no direct knowledge of the matter. That’s why it is so important to repudiate and expose lies at every encounter. Never, ever let one pass. Even when it’s the same one that you dispelled yesterday — or thought you had taken care of. One thing about liars, they keep coming back. They don’t give up. Would you give up, if you had $20 billion at stake?

This article is tagged with editorial, From the Editor, LightSquared and posted in From the Magazine, Opinions

The System: LightSquared Interference with GPS

July 1, 2011

And the Beat Goes on Developments in the LightSquared saga came fast and furious in June; highlights are […]

This article is tagged with LightSquared, The System and posted in GNSS, OEM, Survey, Transportation

Letters to the Editor: LightSquared Satellite Case Skimpy

July 1, 2011

Thank you for the story “LightSquared, FCC Rebuttals Distort Record” (see www.gpsworld.com/distort). One thing worth clarifying: you state, “It appears that the purpose of Lightsquared’s satellite service is, now, to provide ancillary service in remote areas not covered by the ubiquitous primary terrestrial network, or in the event that the terrestrial network is destroyed — exactly the opposite of what the FCC authorized and the GPS industry had understood and agreed to.”

This article is tagged with FCC, letters, LightSquared and posted in From the Magazine, Opinions

Expert Advice: Critical Offshore Applications of SBAS GNSS

July 1, 2011

Precise positioning of many different kinds of vessels and other equipment depend upon satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) of GNSS, principally GPS and GLONASS at this time. The applications range from exploration to production and delivery of hydrocarbons to shore-based installations and navigation of very large crude carriers, or oil tankers. Decisions and recommendations are strongly needed to keep these services free from interference.

This article is tagged with Expert Advice, LightSquared, SBAS and posted in From the Magazine, Opinions

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