LightSquared Throws A Punch At Test Results, Keeps The Dream Alive

It's the story that just won't end. Just when you thought LightSquared may have given up the game, nope -- here's another punch to the mid-section. LightSquared has just issues a scathing new release that points fingers at testing equipment and again assures the public that their network wouldn't screw with any GPS triangulation. LightSquared said today that the process used to test GPS devices by Air Force Space Command on behalf of the Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Executive Committee (PNT EXCOM) was rigged by manufacturers of GPS receivers and government end users to produce bogus results, and revealed details of the testing to document its accusations.

PNT EXCOM advises and coordinates among U.S. government agencies on GPS matters and is comprised of representatives from those agencies with GPS expertise. LightSquared has called on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to objectively re-evaluate this initial round of testing and also to evaluate mitigation proposals the company has proposed. Additionally, the company has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the NTIA to conduct the second round of tests on high-precision devices at an independent laboratory to ensure objectivity and transparency.


In a call with reporters, Jeff Carlisle, LightSquared's Executive Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy; and Geoff Stearn, LightSquared's Vice President for Spectrum Development; outlined how GPS industry insiders and government end users manipulated the latest round of tests to generate biased results. Also on the call was Edmond Thomas, former chief engineer at the FCC who explained how fair and accurate testing should be conducted.

Will LightSquared get anywhere using the brute force method? It's hard to imagine so, but at this point, it's about the only tactic they have left to try...