NSGIC News

LightSquared Updates - 12/12/11

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:27:00 +0000

LightSquared Update - Leaked Test Results, Lawsuit Expected 12/12/11

by Adena Schutzberg

December 12, 2011

http://apb.directionsmag.com/entry/lightsquared-update-leaked-test-results-lawsuit-expected-12-12-11/219400

New government tests show wireless start-up LightSquared's network could knock out a "great majority" of GPS devices, according to a congressional aide who has seen a draft government report on the tests.Preliminary data from recent government and industry tests of LightSquared's network suggest that the start-up hasn't solved concerns that its network would knock out a large number of personal or military GPS devices, the report said, according to the aide.

LightSquared network still harms GPS, says draft report

Edward Moyerby Edward Moyer December 10, 2011

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57340872-94/lightsquared-network-still-harms-gps-says-draft-report/

LightSquared's planned 4G wireless network caused "harmful interference" to the majority of GPS receivers used in recent government testing of the network, according to reports citing a draft version of the test results.

LightSquared plans to offer network services like wholesale Internet access to companies such as Best Buy, but concerns about the network knocking out personal or military GPS devices have been raised by the Defense Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, and GPS companies and users. The LightSquared network uses frequencies that are near to those used by GPS devices.

SEC may sue LightSquared investor

By Brendan Sasso - 12/11/11

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/198573-sec-may-sue-lightsquared-investor

Federal regulators notified Harbinger Capital, the primary investor in wireless firm LightSquared, that they are considering suing the hedge fund over potential violations of securities laws.

Philip Falcone, the head of Harbinger Capital, and other employees received "Wells Notices" from the Securities and Exchange Commission informing them of the possible action, the firm acknowledged on Friday.

Falcone’s LightSquared Said to Disrupt 75% of GPS in U.S. Tests

By: Todd ShieldBloomberg - 09 December 2011

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-12/falcone-s-lightsquared-said-to-disrupt-75-of-gps-in-tests.html

Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Philip Falcone’s proposed LightSquared Inc. wireless service caused interference to 75 percent of global-positioning system receivers examined in a U.S. government test, according to a draft summary of results.

The results from testing conducted Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 show that “millions of fielded GPS units are not compatible” with the planned nationwide wholesale service, according to the draft seen by Bloomberg News.

First Call for Content: NSGIC 2011 Midyear Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:34:00 +0000

This is the first call for presentations for the 2011 Midyear Conference.

Please consider submitting an abstract for the conference. There are three different types of presentations at the NSGIC Midyear:

Ignite session – an Ignite Session consists of 4 to 7 presenters, each giving a seven-minute presentation. Time for questions/answers is allocated after all the presentations are complete. Your presentation cannot take more than 7 minutes and should have no more than 20 slides.
Panel Discussion – a Panel discussion consists of 2 or more speakers that give a short introduction to a topic followed by a vigorous discussion on the topic.
Traditional Presentation – A traditional presentation is a 15 to 30 minute presentation on a single theme. Speakers are typically grouped together in a 90 or 120 minute slot on the agenda.

The Midyear Conference focuses on the NSGIC Advocacy Agenda and Federal Initiatives. Potential ideas for topics include, but are not limited to:

NSGIC 'For the Nation' Initiatives:

Addresses
Imagery
Transportation

Governance

Coordination across Federal agencies
Building and supporting the NSDI
Creating strategic and business plans to tie statewide spatial data infrastructures to stakeholder communities

NextGen 911
Broadband / Address points
Real Property Management
Geospatial Preparedness
Multi-jurisdictional Collaboration

When submitting a presentation, please include the following: Presenter’s name, contact info (email, cell phone) title, organization, presentation title and a 2 – 3 sentence abstract. Please remember to list the presentation type (ignite, panel, traditional).

Remember, NSGIC does not pay for travel and all presenters are expected to register for the conference.

Please send your submissions to the conference chair:

Tony Spicci

Tony.Spicci@mdc.mo.gov

573.882.9909 x3295

FCC Creates Lightsquared FOIA

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:20:00 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission has received numerous requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for documents related to LightSquared, Sky Terra, Mobile Satellite Ventures, Motient, Harbinger, TerraStar, and people related to these entities. For the convenience of the requesters and the public, under the “frequently requested records” provision of the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(2)(D), the FCC has created this public web portal to provide ready access to publicly available documents and other responsive documents not otherwise exempt from release under the FOIA. The FCC is still in the process of releasing documents responsive to the FOIA requests and will inform all FOIA requesters when we have concluded releasing documents.

http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/lightsquared-foia

LightSquared Updates - Nov. 16th Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:22:00 +0000

Senator Seeks Halt to LightSquared in Event of GPS Interference

By: Todd Shields

Bloomberg

16 November 2011

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-16/senator-seeks-halt-to-lightsquared-in-event-of-gps-interference.html

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts asked colleagues to prevent Federal Communications Commission approval of Philip Falcone’s LightSquared until the agency shows the wireless service won’t disrupt the global-positioning system.

Senator Roberts Introduces Amendment to Protect GPS

Senator Roberts Press Release

16 November 2011

http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=1d0299e3-4043-4b20-b5e9-09669d8f8d11&ContentType_id=ae7a6475-a01f-4da5-aa94-0a98973de620&Group_id=d8ddb455-1e23-48dd-addd-949f9b6a4c1f

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment this week that prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from using any appropriated funds to allow LightSquared to build out a broadband network until the agency can prove the expansion will not interfere with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Not a Good Week for LightSquared

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:28:00 +0000

Some highlights:

White House’s Testimony ‘Guidance’

The Daily Beat, Eli Lake

Sept. 19, 2011 11:44 PM EDT

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/19/lightsquared-second-witness-rejects-white-house-testimony-guidance.html

LightSquared, a wireless network backed by billionaire Democratic donor Philip Falcone, could beam broadband Internet everywhere—but some military officials fear it could interfere with critical GPS signals. Now, as The Daily Beast's Eli Lake exclusively reports, two U.S. officials allege the White House tried to influence their testimony to rush key testing, to LightSquare's benefit.

Petri rebuts LightSquared ad in letter to CEO

Janice Wood | General Aviation News | September 18, 2011

http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/09/18/petri-rebuts-lightsquared-ad-in-letter-to-ceo/

In a letter to the chairman and CEO of a wireless company LightSquared, House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-Wis.) sought to set the record straight following the company’s ad in the Wall Street Journal the day before.

Department Seeks to Protect GPS Operations

Armed Forces Press Release

16 September 2011

Defense Department officials are raising concerns that a company’s proposed wireless broadband network would cause harmful interference to essential Global Positioning System operations.

LightSquared’s new terrestrial network has the potential to wreak havoc on GPS systems that are vital to the military and used in a host of applications, Teresa Takai, the DOD’s chief information officer, and Air Force Gen. William L. Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, told members of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces yesterday.

LightSquared Chief Dismisses Allegations of Political Favoritism

BY: WARREN FERSTER

Space News

16 September 2011

http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/110916-lightsquared-chief-dismisses-allegations.html

LightSquared Chairman and Chief Executive Sanjiv Ahuja dismissed as “ludicrous” allegations that the company, which plans to deploy a satellite-terrestrial mobile broadband network serving North America, received favorable treatment from U.S. telecommunications regulators because of its political connections.

Statement from the Coalition to Save Our GPS

20 September 2011

“We are astonished to hear that Phil Falcone, head of the New York hedge fund that controls LightSquared, believes that LightSquared is being “stonewalled,” apparently by the “GPS industry.” It seems that Mr. Falcone gives no credence to a four star general of our armed forces, the commander of the Air Force Space Command, when he testifies under oath before Congress that, ‘In summary, based on the test results and analysis today, the LightSquared network would effectively jam vital GPS receivers. And to our knowledge thus far, there are no mitigation options that would be effective in eliminating interference to essential GPS services in the United States.’ When questioned about costs, the general responded, ‘We have not estimated cost. However, I think it'd be very safe to say that the cost would be in the b's – billions of dollars.’

“At this point, there is apparently nothing that can convince Mr. Falcone that there are legitimate concerns over interference from GPS – even though every major government agency and every affected company other than LightSquared is on record that its proposal will cause substantial and harmful interference to critical uses of GPS. How LightSquared didn’t know this all along, and how it can continue to suggest that it is simply stonewalling to raise these concerns, is beyond comprehension.

“In fact, LightSquared said at the outset of this process that it had a plan that would not interfere with GPS signals. Comprehensive testing organized by the FCC showed that its first plan would cause devastating interference to GPS. A second plan was discarded for the same reason. LightSquared is now on its third plan and just last week both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the president’s principal adviser on spectrum policies, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), concluded that more testing is needed to determine whether that third plan adequately addresses interference issues.

“It’s time for LightSquared to stop its glossy ads, irresponsible rhetoric, revisionist history and finger pointing, and provide genuine, fully- tested solutions to the GPS interference problem. LightSquared has always been prohibited from interfering with GPS, and it should have done its homework on this critical issue before spending its investors’ money. It is not the fault of government GPS users or the GPS industry that LightSquared has failed to offer proposals that actually solve the problem. LightSquared must accept the responsibility to provide technical proposals that do resolve the problem, as well as its financial responsibility to address any interference issues that it cannot resolve by technical proposals.”

Finally, LightSquared weighs in on its own:

http://www.lightsquared.com/public-policy/

LightSquared Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:27:00 +0000

LightSquared’s Foes Assemble Lobbying Force over GPS Issue

By: CATHERINE HO

The Washington Post

30 October 2011

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/gps-makers-shore-up-lobbyists-to-fight-lightsquared-network-expansion/2011/10/25/gIQAakt7WM_story.html

With the showdown heating up between Reston-based wireless broadband firm LightSquared and a broad coalition of players in the global positioning system industry, both sides are lining up lobbyists to sway lawmakers.

Javad to Show LightSquared Technology Fix at PNT Meeting on Nov. 9

Point of Beginning

28 October 2011

http://www.pobonline.com/Articles/Industry_News/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000001120952

At the Nov. 9 meeting of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board, Javad Ashjaee, founder of Javad GNSS Inc., will present technical details and test results that he said proves the current plan of LightSquared can coexist with GPS. He will also have hardware available at the event. “I will further show that LightSquared can provide major enhancement to GPS and to the way we do RTK today,” he said.

Crucial LightSquared GPS Tests Begin

BY: GRAHAM WARWICK

Aviation Week

28 October 2011

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/10/28/02.xml

Additional government testing of GPS receivers for interference from LightSquared’s broadband-wireless network under a revised deployment plan is getting under way at Holloman AFB, N.M.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered the additional work after tests confirmed there would be severe GPS interference from the original deployment plan, but indicated the problem would be reduced significantly if LightSquared used only the lower of its two frequency bands, the one farthest from the GPS satellite signal.

2012 NSDI CAP Webinars Scheduled

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Sewash) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:20:00 +0000

FGDC staff will host two webinars (Monday, November 14 and Thursday, December 1) to provide background information on the FGDC Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) submission process. Pre-registration for the webinar session is required, links available from the information page.

LightSquared Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Falcone’s Harbinger Said to Face $1 Billion in Redemptions

By Katherine Burton - Jun 8, 2011 2:24 PM CT
Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/falcone-s-harbinger-said-to-face-1-billion-in-redemptions-as-assets-fall.html

Harbinger Capital Partners LLC, the $6 billion investment firm run by Philip Falcone, is facing at least $1 billion in redemptions from its main hedge fund after assets shrank by almost $2 billion in 2010, according to two investors.

White House Holds Back LightSquared Records, Lawmaker Says

By Eric Engleman and Todd Shields - 07 October 2011
Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/white-house-fails-to-share-lightsquared-records-lawmaker-says.html

The Obama administration failed to produce records of contacts with billionaire Philip Falcone and his LightSquared wireless venture by today as requested by House Republicans, the chairman of the House Science Committee said.

LightSquared: GPS Fix to Cost Industry $400M

By Roger Cheng - 12 October 2011
CNet News
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-20119551-10356022/lightsquareds-gps-fix-could-cost-industry-$400m/

LightSquared Chief Marketing Officer Frank Boulben told CNET that there are roughly 500,000 commercial precision GPS devices in the U.S. that could be disrupted by its network. But the company has developed a device, which costs between $300 and $800 and will protect GPS devices from such disruptions.

Bert Granberg named to National Geospatial Advisory Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Joe Sewash) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:20:00 +0000

Congratulations to Bert Granberg for being named to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. Bert is a member of the NSGIC Board of Directors and manages the Utah State Geographic Information Database hosted by the Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC)

LightSquared House Small Business Committee Hearing

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:45:00 +0000

House Small Business Committee Hearing

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses:
Dennis Boykin – Chairman, Leesburg Executive Airport Commission (representing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association)

Rick Greene – Precision Agronomy Manager, MFA Incorporated (representing the Agriculture Retailers Association)

Tim Taylor – President and CEO, FreeFlight Systems (representing the Aircraft Electronics Association)

The purpose of the hearing is to examine the impact on small businesses that may result from LightSquared’s use of its spectrum to provide broadband service near the Global Positioning System (GPS). Small businesses, including farmers, construction contractors, surveyors, and the general aviation industry, rely on the accuracy of GPS. Potential interference with GPS raises significant concerns to these small businesses.

LightSquared Updates - Week of October 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:43:00 +0000

Still playing catch up from being at the Annual then NGAC. Here's the latest:

Lawmakers Target Falcone

BY: JENNY STRASBURG, GREG BENSIGNER, and AMY SCHATZ
The Wall Street Journal
06 October 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204294504576613381000514462.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Hedge-fund manager Philip Falcone is facing mounting political heat over his investment in a controversial wireless-communications company on which he has bet his reputation.

LightSquared Looks for $3.5bn, Says It Can Fix GPS Matter

BY: GREG BENSINGER
Dow Jones Newswire
06 October 2011
http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=468217

Billionaire Phil Falcone's LightSquared wireless venture will need to raise $3.5 billion to be cash-flow positive over about the next two years as it rolls out a new wireless network.

NTIA Cannot Find LightSquared Documents, Tells Magazine to Go Fish

BY: ALAN CAMERON
GPS World
04 October 2011
http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/news/ntia-cannot-find-lightsquared-documents-tells-magazine-go-fish-12126

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has responded to a request under the Freedom of Information Act, filed on September 6 by GPS World magazine, saying it cannot or will not release documents prepared by other government agencies, outlining the operational and economic impacts of a LightSquared terrestrial signal on GPS services. GPS World has talked with two independent sources who confirm that the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, and two other agencies wrote such letters to the NTIA in the June-July 2011 timeframe, in response to a federal tasking by the National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing.

LightSquared Might Take Legal Action Over GPS

BY: STEPHEN LAWSON
PC World
03 October 2011
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/241053/lightsquared_might_take_legal_action_over_gps.html

LightSquared may take legal action if it is denied permission to build its planned LTE network because of concerns over interference between that network and GPS, an executive said Monday.

App Lets University Students Send Video Instantly to Police

noreply@blogger.com (Kathleen DeMarco) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:01:00 +0000

NSGIC Members - The University of Maryland has released a limited deployment, opt-in program where smartphone users can reach the campus police and dispatch center directly from a mobile app. What makes this unique from just calling 911 from your cell is the ability to transmit audio, video and location data in real time - all from the mobile device. This is one of the key features of NG911 and where mobile technology, GIS data and emergency services are all converging. Check out the Government Technology article from the link above. There is a session on NG911 at the NSGIC Annual Conference--check it out.

LightSquared Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:53:00 +0000

FCC Seeks More LightSquared Testing

BY: AMY SCHATZ

The Wall Street Journal

13 September 2011

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904353504576569090292137586.html

Federal Communications Commission officials Tuesday said more testing is needed on wireless start-up LightSquared's plan to deploy a new network that could cause interference with some GPS devices. In a notice, the FCC said it has determined that "additional targeted testing is needed to ensure that any potential commercial terrestrial services offered by LightSquared will not cause harmful interference to GPS operations."

LightSquared Exec Says GPS Issue Will Be Resolved Within a Month

BY: SUE MAREK

Fierce Wireless13 September 2011

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/lightsquared-exec-says-gps-issue-will-be-resolved-within-month/2011-09-12

A LightSquared executive told attendees at the Mobile Future Forward conference here that he expects that there will be a resolution to the company's GPS interference issues within a month. "We are at the end of the process and we expect the FCC to make a decision," said Martin Harriman, executive vice president at LightSquared, a wholesale LTE provider. "We have made some big concessions ... Sprint wouldn't sign this big deal if it didn't expect it to be resolved. I expect there to be a resolution in the next month."

LightSquared Needs More Testing for Interference, FCC Says

BY: TODD SHIELDS

Bloomberg

13 September 2011

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-13/lightsquared-needs-more-testing-for-gps-interference-fcc-says.html?cmpid=yhoo

Philip Falcone’s LightSquared wireless service needs more testing to ensure it won’t cause harmful interference to global-positioning system operations, the Federal Communications Commission said.Interference concerns persist after LightSquared changed plans to keep its signals away from those used by GPS, the agency said in an e-mailed notice today. LightSquared can’t commence operations until those concerns are resolved, the FCC said without proposing a deadline for the additional tests.

Telecom and Information Chief Plans New Tests of LightSquared

BY: BRENDAN SASSO

The Hill

12 September 2011

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/180963-telecom-and-information-chief-plans-new-tests-of-lightsquared

The chief of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration told officials at the Transportation and Defense Departments on Friday to prepare new tests of wireless start-up LightSquared.

LightSquared Offers Low-Power Olive Branch to GPS

BY: BILL RAY

The Register12 September 2011

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/12/lightsquared_plan_d/

LightSquared, the firm which so upset GPS users with their 4G-at-satellite-frequencies plan, has offered to reduce the interference by dialling back the transmission power and clear an exclusive band for precision GPS. LightSquared.

LightSquared Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:22:00 +0000

Testimony posted from the September 8, 2011 House Science Committee hearing on LightSquared and GPS interference.

Thanks to PNT for posting.

http://www.pnt.gov/public/2011/09/sciencecommittee/

The page includes a link to the committee's website, which includes both the government and non-government testimony and a video of the hearing.

LightSquared May Degrade Hurricane Tracking, Agencies Say
By Todd Shieldshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Bloomberg
8 September 2011
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-07/falcone-s-lightsquared-needs-more-testing-u-s-board-will-tell-lawmakers.html

Philip Falcone’s LightSquared wireless service needs more testing because it may degrade precision services that track hurricanes, guide farmers and help build flood defenses, U.S. agencies are to tell Congress today.

Interesting LightSquared Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:55:00 +0000

LightSquared to Face Congressional Science Committee Hearing
BY: TODD SHIELDS
Bloomberg
30 August 2011
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-30/lightsquared-to-face-congressional-science-committee-hearing.html

Philip Falcone’s proposed LightSquared wireless service faces a hearing Sept. 8 before the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee, the panel announced today.

Full Committee Hearing - Impacts of the LightSquared Network
2318 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 | 09/08/2011 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Witnesses:
Mr. Anthony Russo, Director, The National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
Ms. Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Mr. Badri Younes, Deputy Associate Administrator, Space Communications and Navigation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Peter Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Department of Transportation
Dr. David Applegate, Associate Director, Natural Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey
Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University

FCC May Require Further Tests on LightSquared Interference to GPS
BY: GLEN GIBBONS
Inside GNSS
31 August 2011
http://www.insidegnss.com/node/2737

Amid White House efforts to keep a lid on the process and congressional hearings on the subject, the controversy surrounding LightSquared’s interference to GPSappears likely to compel the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to require another round of testing — this time of the wireless broadband company’s lower L-band frequencies.

Why a Threatened AT&T Merger is Bad for LightSquared
BY: BILL FLOOK
Washington Business Journal
31 August 2011
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2011/08/why-an-threatened-attt-mobile-merger.html

The U.S. Justice Department filed suit Wednesday to block AT&T’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile Mobile USA Inc., on the grounds the $39 billion merger would shrink wireless competition and violate antitrust laws.

IT Think Tank Sides with LightSquared on GPS Spectrum Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:45:00 +0000

IT Think Tank Sides with LightSquared on GPS Spectrum Issues
BY: KEVIN FITCHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Connected Planet
26 August 2011

http://connectedplanetonline.com/3g4g/news/it-think-tank-sides-with-lightsquared-on-gps-spectrum-issues-0826/

An IT think tank has lent its weight to LightSquared’s claims that the commercial GPS industry is to blame for the interference problems their devices would experience if LightSquared’s long-term evolution (LTE) network goes live.

Register Now For The NSGIC Annual Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Registration is open for the 2011 Annual Conference. Please visit the website at (http://www.nsgic.org/events/2011_annual.cfm) for more information about the conference and to review the draft agenda. You can either download a printable registration form or visit NSGIC Online to register. You will need to log in prior to registering online. Remember to register before August 26th to receive the early registration rate!

The Grove Hotel is offering a special rate of $109, per room, per night, for the NSGIC 2011 Annual Conference for Saturday, September 24 thru Thursday, September 29th. To make your reservation, call the hotel at 1-888-961-5000, please reference NSGIC (National States Geographic Information Council) when making your reservation. Be sure to make your reservation before September 3, 2011 in order to receive the NSGIC discounted rate.

LightSquared Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Dish Network Gives LightSquared Yet Another Headache
BY: LYNNETTE LUNA
Urgent Communications
24 August 2011
http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/dish-network-challenges-lightsquared-20110824/

Dish Network is pitting itself against LightSquared. The company, which last month received final approval from a bankruptcy-court judge to purchase bankrupt TerreStar Networks for $1.375 billion, has now asked the FCC to allow it to combine its S-band satellite spectrum licensees it acquired from TerreStar and another bankrupt satellite firm DBSD North America. It then would offer terrestrial-only and satellite/terrestrial devices to consumers on a proposed hybrid satellite-terrestrial mobile broadband network that would leverage the next iteration of LTE, known as LTE Advanced.

Deere Says LightSquared May Cost Farmers $30 Billion Annually
BY: ERIC ENGLEMAN and TODD SHIELDS
Bloomberg
24 August 2011
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-24/deere-says-lightsquared-may-cost-farmers-30-billion-annually.html

Philip Falcone’s LightSquared wireless service would disrupt farm equipment guided by the global-positioning system, costing the agriculture industry as much as $30 billion a year, Deere & Co. told U.S. regulators.

Dish's wireless plan unveiled: satellite-terrestrial LTE-Advanced network

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:54:00 +0000

FierceWireless
By Phil Goldstein

Dish Network wants the FCC to allow it to combine the S-Band spectrum licensees it acquired from TerreStar Networks and DBSD North America andhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif grant it a waiver to offer terrestrial-only devices to customers on a proposed hybrid satellite-terrestrial mobile broadband network using LTE-Advanced network technology.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/dishs-wireless-plan-unveiled-satellite-terrestrial-lte-advanced-network/2011-08-23?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:50:00 +0000

LightSquared Charges That GPS Receiver Manufacturers "Ignore" DoD Standards
Inside GNSS
15 August 2011
http://www.insidegnss.com/node/2725

LightSquared has opened a new rhetorical front in its battle with the GPS community over the company’s efforts to convert L-band frequencies into terrestrial wireless broadband services: claiming that receiver manufacturers “chose to ignore” Department of Defense (DoD) standards.

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:46:00 +0000

NTIA Chief Urges FCC to Wait on LightSquared
BY: MAISIE RAMSAY
Wireless Week
15 August 2011
http://www.wirelessweek.com/News/2011/08/Technology-NTIA-Chief-FCC-Wait-LightSquared-Wireless-Networks/

NTIA chief Larry Strickling has asked the FCC to delay its approval for LightSquared's mobile broadband service until the agency can conduct more tests on a new plan to reduce the network's effect on GPS service. "NTIA supports the EXCOM' s [National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing] recommendation that additional tests be performed and recommends that the FCC continue to withhold authorization for LightSquared to commence commercial operations until all the available test data can be analyzed and all valid concerns have been resolved," Strickling wrote in a letter posted Friday to the agency's website.

And Now For Something Different... (at least from LightSquared)

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:43:00 +0000

Appeals Court Rules GPS Unit Legally Placed on Suspect's Car
BY: KEVIN MURPHY
Janesville Gazette
11 August 2011

Walworth County authorities legally attached a GPS unit to a car that led them to two serial burglars, a state appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Authorities didn't violate James G. Brereton's constitutional rights against illegal search and seizure because they obtained a search warrant after they pulled over and impounded his car in a ploy to attach a Global Positioning System device under the hood, the District 4 Court of Appeals found.

Rock and Walworth county authorities in October 2007 were investigating a series of 35 burglaries along the county line when they received a license plate number and description of a car seen at a burglary.

Police pulled over the suspect car and found Brereton and his later-to-be codefendant, Brian J. Conaway, inside. They also found that Brereton had a revoked driver's license, and that the plates didn't match the car's vehicle identification number.

While Brereton, 45, and Conaway, 43, waited, police had the car towed, obtained a 60-day search warrant, attached the GPS, and returned the car without telling Brereton and Conaway about the device.

The device monitored the car's location in real time. When it moved, it sent text messages to a detective's cell phone. Four days later, police matched the car's location to a reported burglary.

Police located the car, pulled it over and arrested Brereton and Conaway, who had items from a recent burglary, according to the appeals decision.

Brereton was charged in Walworth County with several counts of burglary. He pleaded guilty after his motion to suppress the evidence was dismissed. Judge Michael Gibbs sentenced Brereton in November 2009 to seven years in prison, five years extended supervision and $3,295 in restitution, according to online court records.

Conaway received the same sentence and also is appealing his convictions.
Appeals attorney Matthew Pinix argued that the evidence obtained from the GPS should be tossed out because the car was unlawfully seized and the GPS device was more technologically advanced and intrusive than the search warrant allowed. Pinix contended the warrant permitted only periodic recordings of the suspect vehicle's location that could be downloaded later and not real-time tracking.

The court agreed that the device was more intrusive but said it didn't infringe on Brereton's right against unreasonable search and seizure. "(We) see no reason to find that the police overstepped their bounds simply because they were able to monitor the movements in real time rather than needing to continually return to the car, remove the device, and download its information to a computer" wrote Judge Richard Brown.

Pinix said he would ask Brereton if the case should be further appealed.
The decision puts law enforcement on notice that they need to obtain a search warrant before concealing a GPS on a vehicle, he said. "This is quite a change in (Wisconsin) law and is favorable to the civil rights of the state's citizens," he said.

A call to a spokesman for the Walworth County Sheriff's Office wasn't returned before deadline.

LightSquared Update 8/10/11

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:41:00 +0000

U.S. Seeks Way for Lightsquared, GPS to Coexist, FCC Chief Says
BY: TODD SHIELDS
Bloomberg
09 August 2011

Regulators are trying to find ways for Philip Falcone’s LightSquared wireless service to co-exist with global-positioning system users who have complained of potential interference, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said.
“We’re not going to do anything that creates problems for GPS safety and service as we explore technical solutions that will both protect GPS and allow a new service to launch,” Genachowski said at a news conference today after the agency’s monthly meeting in Washington.
The FCC is considering whether to grant final approval to LightSquared, which plans a wholesale network for 260 million subscribers using airwaves previously reserved mainly for satellites. Makers and users of GPS devices, which use satellite signals, say LightSquared would disrupt navigation equipment on aircraft, boats, tractors and automobiles.
The agency is conducting “an engineering, fact-based process,” Genachowski said.

FCC: We Won't Let LightSquared Hurt GPS
BY: GRANT GROSS
IDG News Service
09 August 2011

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission won't allow LightSquared's proposed mobile broadband service to interfere with GPS signals, even though the potential interference would be caused by GPS receivers picking up signals outside of their spectrum, a group of FCC officials said Tuesday.

The FCC, which is now trying to decide whether to allow LightSquared's mobile broadband proposal to move forward, recognizes the importance of GPS (Global Positioning System) as a consumer service and as a service used by the military, airplanes and other groups, the FCC officials said.

The FCC won't allow interference with GPS, one official there said.

Join GPSWorld for 'The LightSquared Watch' Webinar on August 18th

FCC: No timetable for LightSquared review

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:37:00 +0000

FCC: No timetable for LightSquared review
By Brendan Sasso - 08/09/11 04:25 PM ET

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifechnology/176129-fcc-no-timetable-for-lightsquared-review

Federal Communications Commission officials said at a briefing for reporters on Tuesday that they cannot guarantee a review of wireless venture LightSquared will be completed by September.

LightSquared has previously said they expect to receive FCC approval by mid-September to launch their mobile broadband network.

But FCC officials said they are not using any timetable for completing their analysis, and insist they never told LightSquared the review would be completed by then.

LightSquared Update 8/2/11

noreply@blogger.com (Tony) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:20:00 +0000

Profile on Philip Falcone, the hedge fund exec behind LightSquared.
http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/07/falcones-201107

NTIA weighs in...
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/fcc-filing/2011/ntia-letter-transmitting-lightsquared-assessment-report

July 29, 2011 Update from Directions Magazine - FAA Chief says all will be okay for GPS
http://apb.directionsmag.com/entry/lightsquared-update-fcc-out-of-loop-faa-head-says-all-will-be-well-wit/192166

Petition Campaign Aims to End P-Code Encryption -
http://www.gpsworld.com/defense/news/petition-campaign-aims-end-p-code-encryption-11943

Lockheed Martin, European Union Fault Latest LightSquared Network Plan
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110801_5654.php?oref=topnews

Impacts of the LightSquared Network on Federal Science Activities
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee – Full Committee Hearing
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building
Witnesses:

Mr. Anthony Russo, Director, National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
Ms. Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Mr. Badri Younes, Deputy Associate Administrator, Space Communications and Navigation,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mr. Peter Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration,
Department of Transportation
Dr. David Applegate, Associate Director, Natural Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey
Dr. Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute, George Washington University

*NOTE: This hearing will be postponed until after August recess should a debt ceiling plan be adopted by Congress and signed into law by the President.