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LightSquared Wants FCC to Compensate It with Spectrum

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Ok, let me see if I've got this straight??

JBlaze74

Mar 16, 2012, 4:01 PM
So, Lightsquared buys a license for spectrum that was never intended for terrestrial use, fails to make it work without interfering with other signals, is told that they cannot use it for a terrestrial network, and they expect to be given different spectrum? Does anyone else see this as an epic fail in logic? 🙄
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keithfrombm

Mar 16, 2012, 4:13 PM
I see your point, but at the same time, Lightsquared "purchased" the spectrum from the FCC, right? And, technically, the GPS makers are encroaching on Lightsquared's spectrum, and the FCC knows/knew, so they kinda sold them a lemon, didn't they? I dunno. If I were them, I'd try anything I could. But, I doubt its gonna be anything near what they're asking.
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JBlaze74

Mar 16, 2012, 4:46 PM
I could see potential reimbursement for the spectrum license, maybe, if they elected to give up their rights to the spectrum. I could even see giving them a break on another license, but the fact is they can still use the spectrum they have paid for, even if not for what they intended.
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jump454

Mar 16, 2012, 5:49 PM
exactly what jblaze74 said. They bought spectrum, meant for satellite to ground communication. Tried to use it for terresttial communication, get shutdown and want to be reimbursed with spectrum good for that use? Not gonna happen. They should have figured this out longggg before they got this far. They only got approval to build there LTE network if they could prove they wouldnt intefere with gps, which they can not. If anything i would go after the gps indursty for infringing on there spectrum and use that towards buying new licenses. Other than that there SOL.
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djdanska

Mar 17, 2012, 4:14 PM
They (aka it's predecessor, Mobile Satellite Ventures) applied for the spectrum back in 2001 for the purpose of "highly innovative and spectrum-efficient combination of spot-beam satellites and terrestrial base stations to substantially improve coverage, capacity, and reliability of mobile communications without using any additional spectrum." aka NOT terrestrial-only service.

They f'ed up big time. (they being lightsquared)
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Globhead

Mar 16, 2012, 6:06 PM
keithfrombm said:
And, technically, the GPS makers are encroaching on Lightsquared's spectrum,


I have never heard that claim before.
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Versed

Mar 16, 2012, 11:14 PM
1. How long has the GPS system been in place?

2. When did LightSquared decide to use this?
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AtTheMet

Mar 17, 2012, 1:33 PM
Versed said:
1. How long has the GPS system been in place?

2. When did LightSquared decide to use this?


1. Does not matter how long the GPS system has been in place. It is designed to use frequencies which companies must pay to license. The industry is just making equipment without ensuring it is using ONLY the frequencies it has permission to use.

2. LightSquared BOUGHT spectrum that is supposed to be vacant. They didn't decide to use, they bought a legal right to use the SAID frequencies. The GPS industry has used their said frequencies PLUS those of which they have not right to. In my opinion, the GPS industry should be forced to buy at a premium plus penalties from LightSquared for the spectrum ...
(continues)
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djdanska

Mar 17, 2012, 4:17 PM
The FCC did not give them the spectrum for terrestrial-only service. Lightsquared KNOWINGLY bought spectrum meant for sat service, knowing it was NOT allowed for terrestrial only service. The FCC did NOTHING wrong. The FCC gave them the chance to see if they can make it work and they couldn't and they denied them.
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AtTheMet

Mar 24, 2012, 9:10 PM
djdanska said:
The FCC did not give them the spectrum for terrestrial-only service. Lightsquared KNOWINGLY bought spectrum meant for sat service, knowing it was NOT allowed for terrestrial only service. The FCC did NOTHING wrong. The FCC gave them the chance to see if they can make it work and they couldn't and they denied them.


They BOUGHT spectrum. The only issue here is that this PURCHASED spectrum has some illegal users on the purchased frequencies.
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Jarahawk

Mar 19, 2012, 12:10 AM
Well said. Even if light squared can never use the spectrum as they would like they should receive compensation from the GPS industry for infringing upon their spectrum.
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dlmjr

Mar 19, 2012, 1:25 PM
Why are people saying the GPS industry is infringing on the LS spectrum?

They aren't.
The problem is the FCC has kept terrestrial use of adjacent spectrum for the GPS sats vacant to keep any bleed from affecting GPS.

LS thought they could bully their way into that area with terrestrial transmitters and it didn't work.

The GPS sats are owned and operated by the United States Air Force and their signals do not interfere with the LS spectrum.

For LS to use the spectrum from terrestrial transmitters, all of the gps systems would have to be discarded, including your phone if it has GPS capabilities.
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AtTheMet

Mar 24, 2012, 9:13 PM
dlmjr said:
Why are people saying the GPS industry is infringing on the LS spectrum?

They aren't.
The problem is the FCC has kept terrestrial use of adjacent spectrum for the GPS sats vacant to keep any bleed from affecting GPS.

LS thought they could bully their way into that area with terrestrial transmitters and it didn't work.

The GPS sats are owned and operated by the United States Air Force and their signals do not interfere with the LS spectrum.

For LS to use the spectrum from terrestrial transmitters, all of the gps systems would have to be discarded, including your phone if it has GPS capabilities.


Actually, per the US Gov't report, the signals DO interfere. The report seems to hint at...
(continues)
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AtTheMet

Mar 17, 2012, 1:25 PM
Globhead said:


I have never heard that claim before.


Not a claim. A fact. The FCC strictly monitors the frequencies that cell phones use but for some reason, the strict monitoring did not happen for the GPS industry. The fault is with both, the GPS manufacturers and the FCC. The FCC sold something to a company knowing the frequencies sold had activity on it. The real shame is that the FCC talks about acting responsibly and fairness but this blunder gives me great pause.
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djdanska

Mar 17, 2012, 4:19 PM
Doesn't change the fact they tried to use spectrum meant only for Sat service and try to use it with terrestrial-only service. Epic Fail on Lightsquared part.
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dlmjr

Mar 19, 2012, 2:26 PM
The FCC has kept the spectrum adjacent to the GPS spectrum vacant for a reason.
The GPS sat's are owned and operated by the US Air Force and are vital for national defense.

The FCC LEASED the spectrum to LS predecessor for NON TERRESTRIAL use only.

It was never licensed for terrestrial use.

LS thought they could work around bleed over and apply the spectrum for terrestrial use.

The FCC said, ok try it... if it works... you can do it...

It didn't work.

End of story.

LS took a shot a the golden ring, missed and fell off the merry go round

They still hold the spectrum and can use it as it was originally leased for... NON TERRESTRIAL ...

The FCC did not force LS into this deal.
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Globhead

Mar 19, 2012, 6:48 PM
AtTheMet said:
The FCC sold something to a company knowing the frequencies sold had activity on it.


Your description here doesn't make any sense. The GPS devices in question are receivers. They don't have any transmission activity, they only receive transmissions from government satellites. They are not broadcasting anything at all, and certainly are not doing so on some unauthorized frequencies.

The problem is that GPS receivers are designed entirely for high sensitivity. For radio communication in general, strong transmissions can interfere with low-power systems in adjacent bands. This is why the FCC tries to arrange it so that such interfering systems are either operating at sufficiently diffe...
(continues)
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Tofuchong

Mar 16, 2012, 5:48 PM
It is a huge epic fail. Based on this current epic fail, i can forsee others, such as lighsquared suing the FCC if they dont get the new spectrum they want.

they knew the risks and should have been prepared for this.
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JBlaze74

Mar 16, 2012, 6:17 PM
Ah, I'm so glad this story came up. Been bored at work all day. I've missed you guys, lol.
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Jarahawk

Mar 18, 2012, 11:52 PM
Sure it is. However, you never know what you can get unless you ask...
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