GOP decries FCC’s conditional approval of LightSquared wireless plan

Republicans questioned why the Federal Communications Commission fast-tracked an initial approval for a company — well-connected among Democrats — to provide cellphone service through satellites, a technology that other agencies say disrupts Global Positioning System devices, hurricane-tracking systems, and military and commercial airlines.

The FCC gave a crucial green light for LightSquared in January without a full commission vote, despite warnings from companies and federal agencies that the satellite network would harm communication systems crucial to national security and public safety, GOP lawmakers said. But the FCC has defended its process, saying it has led to better understanding of a promising technology. At a House hearing Sept 8, Republicans criticized the FCC for not using its own engineers to examine whether LightSquared’s technology posed interference issues. The agency relied on tests run by the company and the GPS industry.