LightSquared (News - Alert), a company that provides wireless broadband services, just ran into a pothole on the road toward getting a proposition for near-GPS-band wireless networking as its terrestrial network seems “incompatible,” according to tests performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with GPS for low-altitude aviation.

John Porcari, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), testified that the tests performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show some questionable things about LightSquared's network. According to Porcari, the network isn't compatible with GPS-enabled aviation SoF (safety-of-flight) operations.

He noted, "There appears to be no practical solutions or mitigations that would permit LightSqared broadband service, as proposed, to operate in the next few months or years without significantly interfering with GPS."

According to the aviation associations testifying, LightSquared was proposing to start a terrestrial wireless network that would work alongside the GPS service band, meaning that it almost touches their frequencies, seemingly steering clear of interference. Porcari objected and put the hammer on the nail in his commentary.

One of the testifying associations even wants LightSquared to go back on its proposals. Porcari staetd "the FAA concluded that LightSquared's proposed terrestrial network is not compatible with FAA requirements for low-altitude operations in the vicinity of LightSquared transmitters. This incompatibility is primarily focused on lower-altitude aviation operations, including use of GPS for terrain awareness and warning systems, navigation operations to included GPS-based approaches, departures and some low-altitude enroute flight, and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast.”

Porcari's testimony also included other elements, such as the FAA allocating a $2 million budget to investigate LightSquared's effects on GPS-based systems already in place, adding that "further investment cannot be justified at this time." The testimony has LightSquared's network at a difficult position, especially after he claims that it would cause "considerable harmful interference" with the GPS band. His focus on the word "incompatibility" has been noted when he spoke of the LightSquared proposal itself, particularly when speaking of navigation systems in aircraft that rely on GPS.

Thomas L. Hendricks, SVP of various departments at Airlines for America (A4A), added, "With respect to the LightSquared proposal, the incontestable fact is that it will create widespread GPS interference, which will have ruinous effects on aviation. Experts have repeatedly reached that conclusion. LightSquared’s proposal therefore should be withdrawn. The matter needs to be put to rest once and for all.”