Today, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing entitled, “LightSquared: The Impact to Small Business GPS Users.”

The hearing focused on the impact on small businesses that may result from LightSquared’s use of its spectrum to provide broadband service near the Global Positioning System (GPS).  Small businesses, including farmers, construction contractors, surveyors, and the general aviation industry, rely on the accuracy of GPS.  Potential interference with GPS raises significant concerns to these small businesses. 

LightSquared is a Mobile Satellite Service telecommunications company that wants to provide wireless broadband coverage through its satellite and an ancillary ground-based communication network.  Their goal is to provide a wholesale, nationwide wireless broadband service that will cover at least 260 million Americans by 2015.  LightSquared will sell wireless network services to retailers that will sell directly to consumers in both urban and rural areas.  

Materials for the hearing are posted on the House Small Business Committee’s website HERE.