Mission:  To participate in the LightSquared Technical Working Group (TWG) established to evaluate the potential for interference to GPS systems and usage and remain dedicated to protecting and enhancing the communications capabilities of our nation’s first responder community.

LightSquared (previously SkyTerra) is a company that has spectrum in the 1.5 GHz band adjacent to the spectrum used by all GPS receivers.  LightSquared plans to build an LTE terrestrial network with approximately 40,000 sites which would provide wholesale capacity to commercial broadband providers.  There is a potential for interference with currently deployed GPS receivers under certain circumstances.  LightSquared committed to the FCC that it will submit a report by June 15, 2011, to document the potential for interference to GPS and recommended mitigation procedures.

NPSTC is participating in a working group being co-chaired by LightSquared and the U.S. GPS Industry Council to assess the potential for interference.  In January, NPSTC submitted a letter to the FCC raising concerns about the potential for interference.  Accurate GPS information is very important to the public safety community.  GPS signals are used for wireless 9-1-1 location, support of dispatch operations which select the "closest responder" based on GPS location, mapping/response directions to responders, and synchronization of simulcast systems across the country.