[Satellite TODAY 01-27-11] The U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) granted a LightSquared request to drop its requirement that mobile phones using satellite airwaves must be able to communicate with satellites, the company announced Jan. 26.
    The FCC’s approval of the request allows the Harbinger Capital-funded LTE broadband wireless network to provide integrated satellite-terrestrial broadband services to terrestrial-only devices. As a condition of this decision, LightSquared will establish a cooperative process to work with the FCC and other federal agencies to address and resolve issues relative to its network deployment.
    Over the past year, the FCC has auctioned satellite spectrum at much lower rates than other airwaves that are used for cellphone services. Global positioning systems manufacturers raised objections about LightSquared’s proposal during the FCC’s decision-making process, citing that the use of satellite airwaves by cellphones could cause interference.