[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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