Construction Of New Broadband Wireless System On Hold

Construction of a new broadband wireless system is temporarily on hold due to potential interference with GPS New broadband wireless system could interfere with GPS The US Federal Government vows to keep your GPS safe from a possible interference that could be caused by a new broadband wireless system, which is now under review by federal regulators. This new broadband wireless system being developed by the company “LightSquared” would use satellites and relay transmitters on the ground to pass high speed Internet data. But government officials are concerned because an early design involved signals that could potentially block reception of those used for GPS. Blocking reception of GPS – the locating system used by consumers, aviation, agriculture, boaters and cellular 911 systems, among many others – could pose serious problems for those who rely on it. Which is why construction of this new system is on hold as federal regulators wait for the risk of interference with GPS receivers to be eliminated. "We're not going to do anything that creates problems for GPS safety and service," said FCC chairman, according to CNN. But in a letter from this past May, numerous members of the US House of Representatives warned, “These new transmission stations will emit signals that are one billion times more powerful than satellite GPS. These ground-based signals will interfere with GPS usage and could render the technology useless in many areas of the country,” according to CNN. This letter urged fellow lawmakers to ask the FCC to reconsider their decision of granting tentative approval to the project. Congressional lawmakers have demanded to know why they agency failed to realize the potential problem.