FCC Seeks Comments on LightSquared Dilemma

By Doug Lung
published

Wednesday the FCC's International Bureau released Public Notice DA 12-1604 inviting comment on a request from LightSquared for relief from build-out conditions. LightSquared is requesting a declaration that these milestone conditions no longer apply in light of events that have transpired since the release of the Harbinger Transfer Order. LightSquared argues that its ability to provide terrestrial coverage has been constrained by the need to resolve interference concerns relating to the operations of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite services in adjacent frequency bands.

The Harbinger Transfer Order required–among other things–that LightSquared provide terrestrial coverage to at least 100 million people in the United States by Dec. 31, 2012. Additional milestones require coverage to 145 million U. S. inhabitants by Dec. 31, 2013, and to at least 260 million by Dec. 31, 2015.

Comments and Petitions to Deny are due Nov. 9, 2012, oppositions are due Nov. 19, 2012 and replies are due by Nov. 28, 2012.

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.