LightSquared
Forms
Rural
Initiative
to
Ensure
LightSquared
and
GPS
Co-Existence
July
7,
2011
LightSquared,
announced
the
creation
of
the
Empower
Rural
America
Initiative
led
by
an
advisory
board
that
includes
former
Senator
Byron
Dorgan
of
North
Dakota
and
former
Representatives
George
Nethercutt
of
Washington
and
Charlie
Stenholm
of
Texas.
The
group
will
partner
with
LightSquared
to:
·
Work
with
small
cities
and
rural
communities
to
ensure
the
deployment
of
this
new
national
satellite
broadband
service;
·
Work
with
LightSquared
and
other
parties
to
make
sure
device
filters
and
other
approaches
are
developed
that
will
resolve
any
GPS
issues
related
to
precision
agriculture
and
other
areas;
·
Ensure
that
LightSquared’s
integrated
satellite
network
can
help
rural
markets
augment
their
broadband
and
GPS
services
to
provide
greater
accuracy
and
continuity
of
service;
·
Address
the
unique
public
safety
concerns
of
small
towns
and
rural
communities
by
making
the
deployment
of
satellite
communications
services
available
to
assist
people
in
these
areas
in
the
event
of a
disaster,
such
as
tornadoes,
floods
or
other
service
disruptions
to
traditional
communications
systems;
·
Help
close
the
broadband
adoption
gap
in
rural
America. Broadband
is
critical
to
rural
areas
where
it
can
create
jobs,
contribute
to
economic
development
and
introduce
innovations
in
education,
healthcare
and
public
safety.
“There
is
an
overwhelming
need
for
reliable
wireless
broadband
for
public
safety,
education,
healthcare
and
economic
development
in
rural
America.
We
can
have
a
robust,
accurate
GPS
network
and
also
create
a
substantial
new
resource
for
rural
America
in
the
form
of a
wireless
network
that
reaches
areas
that
still
don’t
have
broadband
access,”
said
former
Senator
Byron
Dorgan
of
North
Dakota.
“LightSquared
is
honored
to
be
working
with
such
a
highly
respected
and
devoted
group
of
public
servants.
The
collective
wisdom
of
this
advisory
board
will
play
a
critical
role
in
LightSquared’s
efforts
to
deliver
world-class
wireless
broadband
service
to
the
underserved
populations
of
rural
America,”
said
Sanjiv
Ahuja,
chairman
and
CEO
of
LightSquared.
During
the
recent
bout
of
violent
tornadoes,
LightSquared’s
services
were
used
by
first
responders
and
public
safety
officials
to
communicate
after
cellular
services
were
disrupted
by
the
storms.
Citing
these
efforts,
former
Representative
Charlie
Stenholm
said,
“LightSquared’s
ability
to
provide
fast
and
effective
communication
services
for
public
safety
and
emergency
response
can
provide
a
much
needed
life
line
for
small
and
rural
communities
in
the
Tornado
belt
and
other
areas
of
rural
America
that
are
flood
prone.”
“Let’s
work
to
find
solutions
that
will
give
farmers
the
accurate
GPS
signals
and
advanced
wireless
and
broadband
services
available
to
rural
America,”
said
former
representative
George
Nethercutt.
“They
shouldn’t
be
mutually
exclusive
goals.
The
need
for
ubiquitous
wireless
broadband
services
at
reasonable
costs
is
one
of
the
greatest
needs
in
these
communities.”
