FCC Will Turn Over More LightSquared Documents

The Federal Communications Commission will turn over more documents related to its grant of a waiver to LightSquared for a national wholesale wireless broadband network.

The FCC is in the process of rescinding that waiver over GPS interference issues. "[T]he FCC has indicated we can expect additional documents in the coming weeks," said a House Commerce Committee staffer. The FCC has already turned over some 13,000 pages. Sen Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has a hold on two nominees for open commission seats and has refused to lift it until he gets access to FCC documents. The FCC would not give the documents to Sen Grassley because he is not the chair of a committee with jurisdiction. The House Commerce Committee has shared the first round of documents with Sen Grassley.

A Grassley aide said that those 13,000 pages were all previously released to others under FOIA requests and the hold stands until he gets more. A second FCC document drop at least provides some hope that the hold might ultimately be lifted. Until then, said the aide speaking on background, "There's nothing new here. Sen. Grassley still wants to receive internal documents before lifting his hold on the nominees."