Lawmakers suggest giving military frequencies to LightSquared

A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski this week, urging him to find new radio spectrum for troubled wireless company LightSquared.

"In the absence of a viable technical solution that would allow LightSquared to use its own licensed spectrum, we believe a spectrum swap is the most resourceful and efficient way to quickly expand broadband access nationwide," wrote Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Rodney Alexander (R-LA) and Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), who all serve on the House Appropriations Committee. The lawmakers asked Chairman Genachowski to conduct a "a thorough and thoughtful review" to determine if frequencies currently controlled by the Defense Department could be used for commercial broadband. "We believe identifying and freeing up available DoD spectrum promotes the efficient use of a valuable resource and reaffirms the FCC’s commitment to move the U.S. closer to providing wireless broadband for all Americans," they wrote. They also urged the FCC to "move swiftly" to identify other possible solutions that would allow LightSquared to launch its high-speed network.