Don't mess with GPS
 

(i'm not Margaret, just re-posting)


BoatU.S. Government Affairs
February 24, 2012

Dear BoatU.S. Member:

Last summer boaters sent a clear message to the Federal Communications Commission – “Don’t Mess with GPS!" As you may remember, a private company, LightSquared, received preliminary FCC approval to offer a new cellular broadband service. Tests showed this service could significantly interfere with GPS signals.

Thanks to over 18,000 boaters who submitted comments, along with many other GPS users, the FCC required additional testing in the fall. (Thank you all for your help!) Last week, these tests revealed that the LightSquared’s network would interfere with GPS and that there are no practical fixes. As a result, the FCC has proposed to withdraw LightSquared's approval.(GPS.gov: Interference Studies Lead FCC to Block LightSquared Operations)

The FCC has a new comment period (open to March 1) asking for the public’s opinion. Even if you wrote last summer, please take a few minutes now and write the FCC asking them to protect the GPS signal by saying “No” to LightSquared’s current proposal. Given this company’s tenacity over the last year, we want to make sure that boaters’ needs are remembered as the FCC makes their final decision.

Important points to make:

How do you use GPS in your life – on the water, on land, or in the air?
What would happen to your business/personal life if GPS became unavailable or unreliable?
Wireless broadband service is important, but it should not come at the expense of GPS.
All the studies show that LightSquared’s proposed network would cause interference and that there are no remedies.
Tell FCC that you rely on them to protect the integrity of the GPS signal and that you support their recommendation to stop LightSquared’s current proposal

You can submit comments directly to the FCC through their online comment form. (We regret we can’t streamline this process for you, but it is important enough we’re still asking for your help.) Here’s how:

Click on this link for the FCC’s Electronic Comments Filing System (ECFS): ECFS Express
Select “Proceeding Number 11-109.” It should be near the top of the list.
In the designated boxes, enter your name and mailing address.
In the box that says “Type in or paste your brief comments,” do so. Click “Continue”.
A review page will load listing all of the information entered. If correct, click “Confirm.”
If you have any trouble, you may contact the FCC ECFS Helpdesk at 202-418-0193 or email at ecfshelp@fcc.gov

Thank you for taking action to protect the integrity of the GPS system.

Margaret Podlich
President, BoatU.S.
GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com
703-461-2878 x8363

For an update on this and other government affairs topics please visit BoatUS.com/gov

I followed you link and the process is straight forward. I have submitted my comments to the FCC.

Don't waste your time doing anything, its over. The lightsquared application has been denied by the FCC specifically citing concerns over GPS interference. Zac, is a little behind the times on this one. :)

Guess I already did waste my time.:smash:

nope. read the post. i got this email from boat US yesterday. this is round 2.

"The FCC has a new comment period (open to March 1) asking for the public’s opinion. Even if you wrote last summer, please take a few minutes now and write the FCC asking them to protect the GPS signal by saying “No” to LightSquared’s current proposal. Given this company’s tenacity over the last year, we want to make sure that boaters’ needs are remembered as the FCC makes their final decision."

Good to know. In any event, my response is in.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Poorly designed GPS systems without digital bandpass filters as an example are part of the problem.
Like the old days when you get a radio station on adjacent channels. In the meantime it is a problem.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Happy Valentine's Day: US government breaks up with LightSquared
By Jon Brodkin | Published 11 days ago
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said today that it will not approve LightSquared's proposal to build a national 4G-LTE network, after testing showed that the network would interfere with most existing GPS devices.

The decision came swiftly after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today warned the FCC that "LightSquared's proposed mobile broadband network will impact GPS services and that there is no practical way to mitigate the potential interference at this time." The FCC responded by indefinitely suspending LightSquared's conditional waiver to operate the network, the Washington Post and others are reporting. The FCC will also issue a public notice on Wednesday seeking comment on the NTIA's conclusions. The conditional waiver had been issued in January 2011.

LightSquared proposed to build an open-access, wholesale wireless broadband network integrating satellite and terrestrial technology, but government testing showed that the network would harm performance of 75 percent of GPS devices. GPS makers and the airline industry (which is building a GPS-based navigation system) were among numerous groups objecting to the plan, raising pressure on the FCC to block it. LightSquared can still fight on, but the NTIA recommendation and subsequent FCC decision dramatically reduce its chances of final success.

LightSquared controls spectrum originally intended for satellite communication, and wants approval to use it for terrestrial broadband service. The spectrum is adjacent to that used by GPS, and GPS makers complain the LightSquared signals will be so powerful they would cause widespread jamming of GPS devices. LightSquared has long insisted that the problem lies with the GPS community, which should have to redesign its receivers.

LightSquared has renewed its bitter complaints that the GPS industry has become "too big to fail" and is being protected by government even though its receivers often don't filter frequencies properly and "listen" on adjacent spectrum, including that now held by LightSquared.

"You can get a cell phone for free with a two-year contract that is more resilient to GPS interference than what’s being installed in today’s commercial airliners," the company said, though it pledged to keep working on a solution.

"This proceeding has revealed challenges to maximizing the opportunities of mobile broadband for our economy," the FCC said in a statement. "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."