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LightSquared said today it has launched a program focused on smaller communities with the intent of preventing any interference between GPS systems and its planned wireless network, another move to placate opponents of the rollout.
Marguerite Reardon/CNET
LightSquared, which is building a 4G network and will offer services to other companies on a wholesale basis, said it has started the Empower Rural America Initiative. The group will work with small communities on the GPS issue, help develop filters that would prevent interference, address concerns from those small towns, and help widen the adoption of broadband service.
LightSquared, which is owned by Philip Falcone’s Harbinger Capital, needs to appease the opponents to get its network up and running. The company plans to begin testing its network with customers next year, and has lined up partners including Best Buy.
LightSquared, however, faces stiff resistance from a group called the Coalition To Save Our GPS, which has warned that the signals used in LightSquared’s upcoming wireless network would cripple GPS satellites necessary for running everything from navigation devices to agricultural equipment.
“LightSqaured persists with a plan that is simply unworkable,” said Dale Leibach, a spokesman for the coalition.
Leibach said the talk about filters is speculation, and reiterated that LightSquared’s plans would cause massive interference with GPS systems.
Last month, LightSquared offered a workaround to the interference, which would involve using a different swath of spectrum it says wouldn’t affect a majority of GPS systems. The coalition, however, said the proposal wasn’t sufficient.
The initiative has an advisory board that includes former Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and former Reps. George Nethercutt of Washington and Charlie Stenholm of Texas.
