Personal privacy jammers

When jamming interfered with GPS signals at Newark Airport, a three-month effort determined that low-power, mobile personal-privacy devices were responsible. This article describes how they were found and outlines how the observable parameters of such devices encompass a wide variation in RF spectra and internal modulation.

Lightsquared-sprint contract terminated; business case for gps threat ends

The principal business prop under the LightSquared plan for ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) broadcast of a powerful signal that would have disrupted GPS operations dropped out from under the company on March 16, as wireless carrier Sprint terminated its $9 billion agreement with LightSquared. LightSquared had several such partnership agreements, but the Sprint deal was the largest, and in many eyes the driver of the aggressive plan. With it gone, LightSquared's other deals will likely dissipate — and the current threat, at least, to GPS industry and users should effectively go away.

Report: intelligent transport has grown to $48 billion despite economy

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) today released the most comprehensive study to date on the scope of the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry in the United States and North America. Researchers found intelligent transportation to be a fast growing sector valued at approximately $48 billion, slightly larger than the direct mail industry. Results indicate that cities and states with drastically reduced budgets are turning to technology solutions to maximize existing highway capacity.

Expert advice: realizing europe’s satnav ambitions

The 21st century today faces and will continue to encounter many new societal challenges, all mutually interdependent: health, environment, agriculture, ageing population, personal security, public and civil protection, safe and efficient transport and mobility, citizen rescue, land management, energy (supply, security, and efficiency), full employment, new consumer services, high-tech industry, business security, connectivity, globalization, intellectual property management and protection. All these challenges have a common denominator: the economic health of Europe: growth, competitiveness, and job creation.

Gps world files freedom of information request for u.s. gov lightsquared letters

GPS World has learned that several federal agencies have written official statements to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration regarding the operational and economic impacts of the LightSquared terrestrial signal on GPS services, and has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with NTIA to obtain them. One source who has seen the agency letters termed them “very powerful,” and stated that the NTIA has not forwarded any of the letters to the Federal Communications Commission, which is weighing the matter. This source characterized the NTIA as “sitting on them” as part of a “massive bureaucratic game,” and further stated that Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa and other Congressional representatives are getting “stonewalled” by the FCC in their efforts to investigate the matter.

Lightsquared bankrupt, but spectrum void still beckons

LightSquared, the company that mounted a powerful threat to GPS signals, declared bankruptcy on May 14, after losing a lengthy struggle in the court of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the GPS industry, the U.S. military (behind the scenes), the Federal Aviation Administration, and many other GPS users. However, the vacuum into which Lightsquared sought to step — a dearth of spectrum for exploding mobile data use, up 123 percent last year — remains a gaping hole that will likely attract other entrants.

Out in front: feds playing footsie

I’ll be the first to say that I don’t know how Washington works. I don’t know if Washington works, but that’s another story. Lacking that knowledge, and a competent lawyer to pepper my filings with the requisite “Vaughn v. Rosen, 484 F.2d 820 (D.C. Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 977 (1972) . . . claims of nonsegregability must be made with the same degree of detail” language, all my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for agency communications to the National Telecommunications Administration (NTIA) failed. My FOIA won-lost record stands at 0–7.

Delorme announces retail availability of inreach satellite communicator

DeLorme today announced that its inReach satellite communicator is now available for purchase at retail and online. The inReach can be used as a standalone messenger to send pre-loaded text messages or to trigger an SOS alert. It can be also paired with either an Android phone or a DeLorme PN-60w handheld GPS to enable two-way personal and SOS messaging. In case of emergency, users can describe their situation so proper resources are deployed, and both user and responders can provide ongoing updates until help arrives.

White house may have pressured general to change lightsquared testimony, reports daily beast

General William Shelton, who oversees U.S. Space Command, said in a classified briefing that the White House tried to pressure him to change his testimony to make it more favorable to LightSquared, a company which is tied to a large Democratic donor, reports the Daily Beast website. The episode was confirmed by The Daily Beast in interviews with administration officials and the chairman of a congressional oversight committee.

Dot gives blank stare on lightsquared

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) has responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by GPS World magazine for its recommendations to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding LightSquared interference with the GPS signal. The DoT wrote, “We are withholding two pages [of thirteen relevant pages] in part and eleven pages in their entirety,” and enclosed two completely blacked-out pages. Kathy Ray, the DoT FOIA officer, added that “We have determined that the release of the redacted and withheld portions would foreseeably cause harm to the government’s deliberative process.”

Delorme announces retail availability of inreach satellite communicator

DeLorme today announced that its inReach satellite communicator is now available for purchase at retail and online. The inReach can be used as a standalone messenger to send pre-loaded text messages or to trigger an SOS alert. It can be also paired with either an Android phone or a DeLorme PN-60w handheld GPS to enable two-way personal and SOS messaging. In case of emergency, users can describe their situation so proper resources are deployed, and both user and responders can provide ongoing updates until help arrives.

Safe software unveils fme 2012

Safe Software announced a new release of its flagship product, FME 2012. This release of FME Desktop and FME Server introduces new tools for overcoming data challenges so that data can be used and shared precisely where, when and how it's needed.

Out in front: when the gavel comes down

Perhaps you don’t track suspected criminals in your spare time, nor do you design or supply a GNSS product that does so. Still, the fresh Supreme Court ruling on GPS use for this purpose reverberates for you, in ways yet unknown. The most interesting part of the court’s ruling pops up in a somewhat open-ended “what if” comment concerning future issues that at least one justice thinks the court should address.

Expert advice: mss misinformation, and ten truths

LightSquared is currently conducting a public campaign intended to persuade federal regulators to approve a nationwide broadband service that would be detrimental to users and applications that depend on GPS. The campaign relies on misinformation, revisionist history, half-truths, and clear misstatements of fact. To understand the effort to convince regulators and legislators that the experts are wrong, one must consider 10 basic truths.

National pnt advisory board to hold panel discussion on lightsquared

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced a meeting November 9-10 of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board, which will include a discussion of the LightSquared issue. The agenda is being finalized, but is expected to include a panel on LightSquared with LS2 Executive Vice President Martin Harriman and Javad Ashjaee, CEO of JAVAD GNSS, to discuss their proposed GPS receiver filter solutions as well as the latest test results.