Test results prompt new round in GPS, LightSquared fight

The government began testing whether LightSquared's proposed wireless service interferes with GPS devices after concerns were raised in Congress, agencies, and industry earlier this year. The next phase in the debate begins this month: a clash over what the results mean.

LightSquared CEO Sanjiv Ahuja will begin to present his company's findings on the interference issue in a briefing with Capitol Hill staffers Dec 7. But the results from government tests won't arrive until later this month when federal agencies send their findings to the Commerce Department. LightSquared's effort to get a jump on the government tests is an early attempt to shape the conversation about the results, which the company hopes will move it forward to winning approval to launch its wireless operations. The government test results will be revealed in two rounds, according to Save Our GPS and LightSquared representatives. A test of problems for consumer devices is expected to become public mid-month, while a test of high-precision GPS devices used by industry is expected next year. The government results will land at the Commerce Department, which is expected to present a recommendation on the issue after it sees the findings. But the Federal Communications Commission will ultimately decide what happens, since LightSquared's government approval is contingent on the company satisfying the FCC that it has resolved its inference issues.