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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.”
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