LEAK: GOVERNMENT REPORT STATES LIGHTSQUARED INTERFERES WITH MOST GPS SYSTEMS

According to leaked reports from government test drafts, LightSquared's technology causes "harmful interference" to the majority of GPS receivers. Addressing the allegations, LightSquared called the conclusions "patently false." It added, "We are outraged by the illegal leak of incomplete government data to news organizations. This breach attempts to draw an inaccurate conclusion to negatively influence the future of LightSquared and narrowly serve the business interests of the GPS industry." The company believes tests are inconclusive because they were completed at power levels up to 15 times higher than those that would be used in practice. By ignoring its commitment to work at a lower level to minimize interference, the company believes the conclusions are erroneous. It's important to note, however, that the NTIA will make the final determination about how many devices passed or failed, rather than the documents makers. And that assessment has not yet been made. Despite the ongoing dispute, the company has already managed to secure 30 partners ranging from Sprint to Best Buy, all hoping to cash in on a promised $7 per gigabyte price point. The FCC has given LightSquared the go-ahead to build the network, but will not allow for activation until approving the final round of government testing.

CELL PHONES, ELECTRONIC DEVICES CAUSE INTERFERENCE ON FLIGHTS

A new study obtained by ABC News suggests that cell phones and other personal electronic devices might be causing electronic interference on airplanes. U.S. airlines all require that passengers power off any and all electronic devices, many claiming that “flight mode,” isn’t even allowed. Of course, if you’re like us, you may ignore those warnings and leave your phone on until the last possible second (or entirely with flight mode activated). The report, however, found that there were 75 different incidents between 2003 and 2009 where interference from personal electronics was possible. From ABC News:

Twenty-six of the incidents in the report affected the flight controls, including the autopilot, autothrust and landing gear. Seventeen affected navigation systems, while 15 affected communication systems. Thirteen of the incidents produced electronic warnings, including “engine indications.” The type of personal device most often suspected in the incidents were cell phones, linked to four out of ten.

During one flight, for example, autopilot disengaged at 4,500 feet. When pilots asked flight attendants to search the cabin for electronic devices, they discovered that one phone and three iPods were being used. After those devices were powered down, the flight continued without any incident. ABC News’ aviation expert, John Nance, isn’t convinced the electronics are to blame, however. “If an airplane is properly hardened, in terms of the sheathing of the electronics, there’s no way interference can occur,” he said. For reference, there are over 35,000 flights daily in the United States.

GOVERNMENT REPORT FINDS LIGHTSQUARED LTE INTERFERS WITH GPS

Following up on reports and concerns about LightSquared's possible interference, a government study has found that the outfit's proposed broadband network does indeed impede GPS signals. According to the National PNT Engineering Forum, the federal advisory group that conducted the study, LiqhtSquared's network disrupted GPS signals for all of the devices tested in the area. The report lists OnStar, Garmin, John Deere, emergency services, the FAA, and NASA among those affected by interference. Both LightSquared and the GPS industry are scheduled to present their own tests for the FCC's consideration next week. The news isn't exactly shocking, but it certainly doesn't bode well for the ambitious LTE network.

LTE KILLING GPS?

LTE is coming and devices packed with LTE radios will need to be approved in droves. There has been (and will be) a significant push to get LTE into as many hands and homes as possible for many reasons. The increase in speed, the decrease in lag, and the boost in bandwidth across the US would bring many of the goals of the FCC’s push for a faster internet closer to reality. In order to get these devices into hands faster, would the FCC ignore the possibility that LTE is not “fully baked”?

On January 19th, members of the GPS industry were granted an audience with the FCC to discuss findings that a portion of the LTE broadcast spectrum may be too close to the spectrum used for GPS, and causing significant problems with the technologies cooperating together.

There is evidence that these LTE points being deployed by LightSquared are, in fact, causing interference on a significant scale.

LightSquared has officially commented that it plans to cooperate with the GPS companies and make sure that their technologies do not interfere with each other, but at the moment tension seems high, and the continued inaction on behalf of the FCC is worrisome. Be it negligence, ignorance, or malicious intent, the blatant disregard for the evidence that LightSquared’s broadcasting equipment would interfere with existing GPS infrastructure is a bad sign.

The desire to fast track these technologies “at any cost” is bound to have repercussions. At this point, however, it seems only time will tell if LightSquared holds true to their word, or if we are beginning to see the end of GPS as we know it.