LightSquared has asked the FCC to confirm its spectrum rights, in an attempt to shift the blame for GPS interference to device makers. The company has been awaiting regulatory clearance for its hybrid satellite-LTE network, but approval depends on finding a solution to the interference with GPS devices. After a series of government-requested tests found interference from the LightSquared network with the majority of GPS devices, the company offered to change its spectrum use plan. However, the latest round of tests found it is still interfering with the navigation services. In a statement, the company said the "inescapable conclusion" of the tests is that the incompatibility problem is not caused by LightSquared's network, but by GPS devices "purposefully designed to look into LightSquared's licensed spectrum". While the GPS industry has known for almost ten years LightSquared's plans for the spectrum, the majority of manufacturers have failed to adapt their equipment to avoid interference, the company said. As a result, the company asked the FCC to confirm its legal rights as the licensee for the relevant bands. While such a ruling would give LightSquared a stronger legal footing to go ahead with its network plans, it said it remains open to finding an alternative solution with the GPS industry.
