Official U.S. government information about the
Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics
Reference Documents
Related to LightSquared and GPS
On this page:
- 2001 – 2010
LightSquared ATC authorizations prior to FCC waiver - Nov 2010 – Jan 2011
LightSquared request and FCC waiver order - Early 2011
First round of GPS interference testing - Mid 2011
Proposed changes to LightSquared's operating plan - Late 2011 – Early 2012
Second round of GPS interference testing - Late 2012 – Mid 2013
Further changes to LightSquared's proposal - Mid 2013 – Mid 2014
Assessment of LightSquared handsets
This page provides links to original source documents related to LightSquared and GPS. Many of the links lead to other government websites. Unfortunately, most links to FCC.gov are now broken due to the reorganization of that website.
For general information on this topic, visit the LightSquared and GPS page. Go there
2001 – 2010: LightSquared ATC authorizations prior to FCC waiver
- Aug 9, 2001: FCC request for comments (NPRM) on proposed authorization of MSS ATCs
- Jan 29, 2003: FCC order permitting integration of ATCs into MSS networks, subject to gating criteria ("MSS Flexibility Decision"); Errata
- Jul 3, 2003: FCC order clarifying the MSS Flexibility Decision
- Nov 8, 2004: FCC order authorizing ATC operation by LightSquared predecessor MSV
- Feb 10, 2005: FCC order modifying ATC technical standards, power levels, and rules
- Mar 26, 2010: FCC order modifying ATC authority of LightSquared predecessor SkyTerra
- Mar 26, 2010: FCC order authorizing transfer of ATC authority to LightSquared parent company Harbinger, with conditions setting build-out goals ("Harbinger Transfer Order")
Return to top of pageNov 2010 – Jan 2011: LightSquared request and FCC waiver order
- Nov 18: LightSquared request for modification of ATC authority, or waiver of gating criteria
- Nov 19: FCC request for comments on LightSquared waiver request; Extension
- Jan 12: NTIA letter to FCC raising GPS interference concerns
- Jan 26: FCC CONDITIONAL WAIVER ORDER
Early 2011: First round of GPS interference testing
- Government testing by the National Space-Based PNT Systems Engineering Forum (NPEF)
- Feb 9: NPEF task statement (redacted public version)
- Jun 14: FINAL REPORT; Appendix
- Jul 6: NTIA letter to FCC transmitting NPEF report & recommendations
- Jul 7: EXCOM news release
- Testing by FCC-ordered working group co-chaired by LightSquared and U.S. GPS Industry Council (USGIC)
- Feb 25: FCC guidance
- Feb 25: 1st progress report
- Mar 15: 2nd progress report
- Mar 25: DoD-DOT letter to FCC on working group process
- Apr 15: 3rd progress report
- May 16: 4th progress report; Revised appendix
- Jun 30: FINAL REPORT; Corrections; Appendix 1; Appendix 2;
Revised Appendix 3; Revised Appendix 4
- RTCA report to FAA on airborne receiver impacts
- May 26: Summary (no longer available at RTCA.org)
- Jun 3: Full report
Mid 2011: Proposed changes to LightSquared's operating plan
- Jun 30: LIGHTSQUARED RECOMMENDATION TO FCC; Cover letter
- Jun 30: FCC request for comments on LightSquared report & recommendation
- Sep 7: Further changes to LightSquared proposal, including power-on-the-ground limits
- Sep 9: NTIA letter to EXCOM requesting further tests at lower 10 MHz
- Sep 13: FCC public notice calling for further tests
- Oct 5: EXCOM letter to NTIA accepting request for further tests
Late 2011 – Early 2012: Second round of GPS interference testing
- Oct 12: NPEF task statement
- Dec 14: EXCOM statement on preliminary findings
- Jan 13: EXCOM letter to NTIA on test results
- Jan 19: NPEF report on general purpose device testing at lower 10 MHz
- Jan 25: FAA report on aviation receiver analysis at lower 10 MHz
- Jan 26: NTIA report on cell phone testing at lower 10 MHz
- Jan 27: FCC request for comments on LightSquared petition for declaratory ruling
- Feb 14: NTIA letter to FCC transmitting EXCOM letter and reports
- Feb 14: FCC announcement of intent to withdraw LightSquared authorizations
- Feb 15: FCC request for comments on NTIA letter and FCC plans; Extension
- GPS.gov news story: Interference Studies Lead FCC to Block LightSquared Operations
Late 2012 – Mid 2013: Further changes to LightSquared's proposal
- LightSquared request to modify its ATC authorization to relinquish its upper channel near GPS and relocate operations to a different band
- LightSquared request for public rulemaking to allow transitional use of its lower channel near GPS
- LightSquared request for relief from Mar 2010 terrestrial network build-out conditions
- LightSquared request for federal spectrum allocation change to allow terrestrial mobile operations in proposed relocation band (1675-1680 MHz, used by NOAA)
- Nov 2: LightSquared petition for rulemaking
- Nov 9: FCC request for comments
- FCC docket of public comments (RM-11681)
- Apr 29, 2013: FCC special temporary authorization allowing LightSquared to test terrestrial operations in the NOAA band
Mid 2013 – Mid 2014: Assessment of LightSquared handsets
- LightSquared paper on terrestrial handset interaction with GPS devices
- Jul 15, 2013: LightSquared assessment of uplinks in the 1626.5-1660.5 MHz band
- Aug 7, 2013: FCC request for comments
- FCC docket of public comments (IB 12-340)
- FCC docket of public comments (IB 11-109)
- FCC docket of public comments (SAT-MOD-20120928-00160)
- FCC docket of public comments (SAT-MOD-20120928-00161)
- FCC docket of public comments (SAT-MOD-20101118-00239)
- FCC docket of public comments (SES-MOD-20121001-00872)
- FCC docket of public comments (RM-11681)
- FCC docket of public comments (WT 12-327)
- Jul 1, 2014: NTIA letter to FCC transmitting DOT concerns
