Commission Document

NEWS
Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th Street, S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D. C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

February 14, 2012
Tammy Sun, 202.418.0505
Email: Tammy.Sun@fcc.gov

STATEMENT FROM FCC SPOKESPERSON TAMMY SUN ON LETTER FROM NTIA

ADDRESSING HARMFUL INTERFERENCE TESTING CONCLUSIONS

PERTAINING TO LIGHTSQUARED AND GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS

“To drive economic growth, job creation, and to promote competition, the FCC has been focused on
freeing up spectrum for mobile broadband. This includes our efforts to remove regulatory barriers that
preclude the use of spectrum for mobile services. To advance these goals, the Commission runs open
processes – the success of which relies on the active, timely, and full participation of all stakeholders.
“LightSquared’s proposal to provide ground-based mobile service offered the potential to unleash new
spectrum for mobile broadband and enhance competition. The Commission clearly stated from the outset
that harmful interference to GPS would not be permitted. This is why the Conditional Waiver Order
issued by the Commission’s International Bureau prohibited LightSquared from beginning commercial
operations unless harmful interference issues were resolved.
“NTIA, the federal agency that coordinates spectrum uses for the military and other federal government
entities, has now concluded that there is no practical way to mitigate potential interference at this time.
Consequently, the Commission will not lift the prohibition on LightSquared. The International Bureau of
the Commission is proposing to (1) vacate the Conditional Waiver Order, and (2) suspend indefinitely
LightSquared’s Ancillary Terrestrial Component authority to an extent consistent with the NTIA letter. A
Public Notice seeking comment on NTIA’s conclusions and on these proposals will be released
tomorrow.
“This proceeding has revealed challenges to maximizing the opportunities of mobile broadband for our
economy. In particular, it has revealed challenges to removing regulatory barriers on spectrum that restrict
use of that spectrum for mobile broadband. This includes receivers that pick up signals from spectrum
uses in neighboring bands. There are very substantial costs to our economy and to consumers of
preventing the use of this and other spectrum for mobile broadband. Congress, the FCC, other federal
agencies, and private sector stakeholders must work together in a concerted effort to reduce regulatory
barriers and free up spectrum for mobile broadband. Part of this effort should address receiver
performance to help ensure the most efficient use of all spectrum to drive our economy and best serve
American consumers.”
-- FCC --

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