Coalition Members Rally to Save GPS from hasty FCC action.
Press Release Summary:
Coalition to Save Our GPS, formed by Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) as well as various industries and companies, aims to resolve threat to GPS stemming from FCC's decision to allow expansion of terrestrial use of satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of GPS. In March 10 statement, coalition said resulting 40,000 additional ground stations could result in as many dead spots, each miles in diameter. Coalition also outlined necessary safeguards.
Original Press Release:
AEM a Founding Member of "Coalition to Save Our GPS"
Urges adequate and impartial FCC review process
In its continuing efforts to ensure an adequate and impartial review process, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has joined a wide variety of industries and companies in forming the "Coalition to Save Our GPS" to resolve a serious threat to the Global Positioning System (GPS) - a national utility upon which millions of Americans rely every day.
The threat stems from a recent highly unusual decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant a conditional waiver allowing the dramatic expansion of terrestrial use of the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of GPS, potentially causing severe interference to millions of GPS receivers. The conditional waiver was granted to a company called LightSquared.
AEM in late February hosted a Washington, DC briefing of industry groups and member companies regarding the FCC interim decision and continues to provide leadership on the issue.
The "Coalition to Save our GPS" includes representatives from a broad range of industries, including agriculture, aviation, construction, transportation, engineering and surveying, as well as GPS-based equipment manufacturers and service providers. The coalition's website is www.SaveOurGPS.org.
In a Friday, March 10, statement, the GPS coalition said: "GPS is essential to Americans every day - it's in our cars, the airplanes in which we fly and the ambulances, police cars and fire trucks that help keep us safe. It's also used in many industrial applications and even synchronizes our wireless, computer and utility networks. LightSquared's plans to build up to 40,000 ground stations transmitting radio signals one billion times more powerful than GPS signals as received on earth could mean 40,000 'dead spots' - each miles in diameter - disrupting the vitally important services GPS provides."
The unusual waiver granted in January to LightSquared by the FCC allows it to use its satellite spectrum for high-powered ground-based broadband transmissions if the company can demonstrate that harmful interference could be avoided. The usual FCC process of conducting extensive testing followed by approvals was not followed in this instance. Instead, the process was approve first, then test.
Additional safeguards are needed, the GPS coalition says, and it recommends the following:
In addition to AEM, coalition members to date are: Aeronautical Repair Stations Association, Air Transport Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, Case New Holland, Caterpillar Inc., Edison Electric Institute, Esri, Garmin, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Deere & Company, National Association of Manufacturers, OmniSTAR, and Trimble. Additional members are expected to join in the near future.
About the Coalition
The "Coalition to Save Our GPS" is working to resolve a serious threat to the Global Positioning System (GPS). The FCC granted a highly unusual conditional waiver for a proposal to build 40,000 ground stations that could cause widespread interference with GPS signals - endangering a national utility which millions of Americans rely on every day. The conditional waiver was granted to a company called LightSquared.
Media Contact: Rich Jefferson (rjefferson@aem.org; direct 414-274-0655 or 414-272-0943)
