After recently exiting from bankruptcy as New LightSquared, the Reston, Va. satcom company is facing new opposition from an aviation coalition. The group is skeptical of LightSquared’s plan that promises to protect GPS receivers from interference from its use of frequencies in the L-band spectrum. The coalition—Aviation Spectrum Resources, Inc. (ASRI)—includes Airlines for America, Bristow, Cargo Airline Association, FedEx, HAI, IATA, NATA, Rockwell Collins IMS and UPS.
ASRI sent a letter to the FCC complaining that “...LightSquared’s proposed plan is insufficient in its scope of devices, attempts to redefine existing internationally recognized standards using its own metrics and asks the [FCC] to open ‘Pandora’s Box’ by attempting to define harmful interference using LightSquared’s self-serving criteria.”
The coalition pointed out that LightSquared’s plan adds new tests outside of applicable RTCA minimum operational performance standards (MOPS), which should be the guiding criteria. ASRI also noted that LightSquared selected only two certified aviation receivers for testing, the Garmin GTN 625 and Avidyne IFD440, both of which “are not even being implemented by the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers.” The coalition is asking the FCC to support a Department of Transportation Test Plan, which takes into account suggestions from GPS industry stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Garmin and New LightSquared settled a lawsuit that LightSquared had filed against Garmin, Deere, Trimble and others on Nov. 1, 2013. “Under the agreement, New LightSquared agreed to reduce out-of-band emissions and power levels from currently authorized levels and to file a request at the FCC forgoing terrestrial use on parts of the spectrum. Subject to these network commitments, Garmin agreed not to object to the new company’s terrestrial deployment plans in the spectrum located between 1627-1680 MHz,” according to New LightSquared.
"We are pleased a settlement has been reached with LightSquared. As part of the settlement, LightSquared has agreed to reduce out-of-band emissions and power levels in the spectrum band closest to the GPS signal,” Garmin said in a statement. “Going forward, LightSquared will also file a request with the FCC to forgo terrestrial use of portions of the spectrum. Based on these changes to the deployment plans, Garmin believes that the interests of those using GPS are protected and does not anticipate any performance degradation for those using GPS-based technologies. “
Under the agreement, Garmin is receiving a confidential financial settlement.