GOP lawmakers seeking cost of LightSquared inquiry to taxpayers

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) have asked Larry Strickling, the head of the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), how much money the government spent testing LightSquared's network, how many employees worked on the project and whether the Administration will ask for reimbursement. The lawmakers noted that LightSquared's chief financial backer, billionaire Philip Falcone, is considering bankruptcy for the company. "If LightSquared does indeed declare bankruptcy, our concern is that the federal government will be unable to recoup the taxpayer dollars it has expended funding testing on LightSquared's network," the Republicans wrote.