[time-nuts] FCC Chair Talks Spectrum, Gets GPS Letter
Charles P. Steinmetz
charles_steinmetz at lavabit.com
Wed Mar 7 17:40:39 UTC 2012
Rob wrote:
>Javad got into bed with Lightsquared and now things are not working as
>planned he is throwing his toys out of the pram.
Javad was hoping to profit from making (and/or perhaps licensing the
technology to make) retrofit filters. Some would have been paid for
by LS (presumably at wholesale), but the vast majority would have
been sold at retail to GPS users. Call it piggyback speculation
(Javad speculating on LS's speculation on the possibility of putting
cheap Mobile Satellite Service ("MSS") spectrum to a much
higher-valued use and reaping a windfall).
I love that LS is suggesting that if it is not allowed to go forward
with its terrestrial network it should either be reimbursed for its
"losses" or be given other spectrum in exchange that it can use for
the terrestrial network. (I.e., LS has the balls to suggest that
taxpayers should guarantee its speculation. Have the past 5 years
taught us nothing?) LS paid a fair price for MSS spectrum (which is
relatively inexpensive because the market for MSS services has never
developed). It can still operate an MSS network, or sell the
spectrum to someone else who wants to operate an MSS network. It
still has the full value of the MSS spectrum, which it acquired at
MSS prices, and has lost nothing (except many millions in legal fees
fighting for authorization to build its terrestrial network).
Best regards,
Charles
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