Compromise Provides Framework for GPS Industry and Leads to Settlement of the Lawsuit between New LightSquared and Deere
RESTON, Va., December 8, 2015 – Today, New LightSquared reached agreement with Deere & Company on spectrum use parameters for terrestrial service in the L-Band relating to the company’s licenses as regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The agreement marks the end of a number of disputes between the parties over the mobile operator’s use of spectrum for ground-based wireless broadband services. Under the agreement, New LightSquared agreed to reduce out-of-band emissions from currently authorized levels and to file a request at the FCC forgoing terrestrial use on parts of the spectrum. Subject to these network commitments, Deere agreed not to object to the new company’s terrestrial deployment plans. As part of this agreement, the parties also finalized settlement of a lawsuit involving claims between the parties.
In announcing the agreement and settlement, Doug Smith, the company’s chief executive officer, stated, “We are glad to finally find resolution to these important spectrum issues and are pleased to reach an end to the case against Deere. We will provide increased protections for Deere’s interests by agreeing to power levels on our uplink and downlink frequencies, dialing down our out of band emissions, and by requesting that the FCC modify our license to forgo terrestrial use of the downlink band closest to the GPS signal. Because of these commitments to protect GPS interests, we are pleased that Deere will not object to the new company’s use of its spectrum located between 1627-1680 MHz and the band at 1526-1536 MHz for terrestrial service.”
Smith added, “We believe this agreement sets forth the framework that enables GPS and broadband to peacefully coexist, and we will continue to work with industry and government stakeholders to reach consensus that enables this spectrum to be utilized.”
As part of the agreement, New LightSquared will make filings at the FCC that commit to conditions on spectrum use and uplink and downlink limits, and Deere agrees it will not object to the company’s deployment of a network in the spectrum bands 1526-1536 MHz, 1627.5-1637.5 MHz, 1646.5-1656.5 MHz and 1670-1700 MHz, as long as such deployment is consistent with the operational parameters agreed to by the companies in the agreement.
The company’s lawsuit against Deere and others was filed on November 1, 2013 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and later transferred to the District Court. Deere & Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment and a leading manufacturer of equipment for construction, forestry and turf care.
New LightSquared is a mobile operator focused on increasing capacity and expanding coverage for American wireless consumers. Utilizing its mid-band spectrum resources, the new company plans to be the staging ground for next-generation technologies while strengthening the existing wireless ecosystem. Since 1996, the company has provided satellite-based communications services to customers throughout North America.
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CONTACT:
Ashley Durmer
Durmer Solutions
Tel: (202) 716-0702
Forward Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding New LightSquared and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of the company’s management and are, therefore, subject to certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements expressed herein relate only to information as of the date of this release. New LightSquared has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, nor is there any assurance that the plans or strategies discussed in this release will not change.
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