FCC
Approves GPS-jamming transmitters
Federal
Communications Commission gives the green light to 40,000 broadband
transmitters that would cripple GPS
navigation.
26
January 2011
— The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has approved a company called LightSquared
Communications to install up to 40,000 high-powered, land-based
broadband transmitters that broadcast in the band directly adjacent to
the GPS frequencies. It has been found that these transmitters would
have a disastrous effect upon aviation GPS receivers such as the
popular Garmin GNS 430W. In testing, the receivers began to be jammed
at 13.8 miles from each transmitter site, and navigation was effectively shut down at 5.6
miles from each site. Automotive units such as the Nuvi did
a little better.
The approval was moved
rapidly through the approval process, and the approval was made
despite industry representatives' pleas to evaluate the
transmitters further.
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More information, including contact numbers for the lawmakers
who are involved in the approval process can be found here: GPS Community Urged to Contact
Congress.
The FCC's Chief of the
International Bureau, Mindel De La Torre, was not swayed by the
protests of the GPS manufacturers; perhaps she would be influenced by
a whole bunch of respectful, concerned citizens who wrote to her at Mindel.DeLaTorre@fcc.gov, or
called her office at
202-418-0437.