WASHINGTON LightSquared is testing the feasibility of sharing spectrum with federal users. The bankrupt venture won approval from the Federal Communications Commission recently for experimental authority to test wireless broadband at 1,675-1,680 MHz on a shared basis with existing federal meteorological users. The authorization reflects a November, 2012, petition filed by LightSquared to operate the terrestrial component of its proposed network in this 1.6 GHz allocation rather than the 1,545-1,555 L-band spectrum where its operations were found to interfere with global positioning systems.
LightSquared proposes that this additional use of the 1,675-1,680 MHz band be permitted only if such use is coordinated to protect government systems that will remain in the band-including the critical weather monitoring and predicting operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the petition stated.
Speaking Wednesday at an investors' conference in New York, outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said he expects LightSquared to eventually win approval to use its spectrum for a terrestrial broadband network, according to Bloomberg.
It was under Genachowski's watch in January of 2011 that LightSquared secured an FCC waiver allowing it to develop a terrestrial operation in the L-band spectrum designated primarily for satellite transmissions. The company's goal was to create a nationwide 4G LTE hybrid terrestrial-satellite wireless broadband network to offer on a wholesale basis to consumer-facing carriers.
Subsequent tests indicated that terrestrial signals interfered with GPS devices in adjacent spectrum, or rather, GPS devices lacked the ability to reject LightSquared's signals.
LightSquared offered to operate at a lower power level on only half of its spectrum, creating a buffer zone for GPS operations, but further tests by the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems Engineering Forum indicated that high-precision GPS devices such as those used by the military would still be affected.
LightSquared countered with its own test results from Alcatel Lucent, and offered to fabricate filters for sensitive GPS devices, but the outcry from the GPS community was overwhelming. Comments continue to compile on the FCC's LightSquared docket, even though the commission suspended the terrestrial waiver more than a year ago.
Within a few months, the company, funded with around $3 billion from New York-based hedge fund Harbinger Capital, filed for Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Lawmakers followed with a hearing on how LightSquared secured the terrestrial waiver in the first place, and have since turned their attention to receiver standards.
LightSquared's current proposal, and the subject of the experimental authority, is to initiate a rulemaking to add a non-federal, terrestrial mobile use allocation to the 1,675-1,680 MHz band. If granted, LightSquared would use the 1,670-1,680 MHz band for downlinking, and two more 10 MHz allocations in the 1.6 GHz band for uplink operations. It would relinquish its authority to conduct terrestrial operations at 1,545-1,555, providing GPS receivers an additional 10 MHz guard band from terrestrial services, the petition states.
The next step would be a Special Temporary Authority to determine the technical feasibility, timing and cost of moving radiosonde devices to other frequencies.
The experimental license commenced April 29 and expires July 20, 2013.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
WASHINGTON LightSquared is testing the feasibility of sharing spectrum with federal users. The bankrupt venture won approval from the Federal Communications Commission recently for experimental authority to test wireless broadband at 1,675-1,680 MHz on a shared basis with existing federal meteorological users. The authorization reflects a November, 2012, petition filed by LightSquared to operate the terrestrial component of its proposed network in this 1.6 GHz allocation rather than the 1,545-1,555 L-band spectrum where its operations were found to interfere with global positioning systems. 
