LightSquared: Round 14 - Here We Go

When we last checked in on this situation on January 16th (See: LightSquared: Down for the Count), LightSquared was on the mat, taking the count at the end of the 13th round.  But with billions at stake, staying on the mat was not an option for LightSquared.  So up off the mat it staggered and into round 14 we go.  Better dust off that fight card because things are happening so fast, there's no way to keep track of who is landing what blows without it. Here's an update on these two punch-drunk fighters to help you out:

• January 19, 2012: LightSquared Announces It Has Partnered With Jolt - A Pre-Pay Wireless Provider to Ethnic Communities
• Janaury 20, 2012: The Wall Street Journal Reports Distressed-Debt Investors Carl Icahn, David Tepper, and Andrew Beal are Purchasing LightSquared's Debt
• January 26, 2012: LightSquared Complains to eweek that Interference Testing of its System was Unfair
• January 27, 2012: Bloomberg Reports the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is Taking Comments on a December 20th, 2011, LightSquared Request to Rule GPS is not a Legally Protected Signal
• January 30, 2012: The U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee Announces Hearings on LightSquared Interference for February 8, 2012
• January 31, 2012: Sprint Tells LightSquared it has Until Mid-March to Receive FCC Approval or its Biggest Customer is Gone

Want to know more?  Here are the resources:

The U.S. Government GPS gatekeeper's point of view:

• National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing
• GPS.gov (for Congressional staffers)

The U.S. GPS industry's point of view:

• Coalition to Save Our GPS

LightSquared's point of view:

• LightSquared

Interested in filing a comment on LightSquared's request to the FCC?  You have until February 27, 2012.  Here's where you can do it:

• File a short form comment with the FCC
• File an attachment as a comment with the FCC (use link at the top of the page that says "Submit a Filing in 11-109")

Comment: If you are here for the first time and wondering: "What's this all about and why should I care?".  Short answer: The winner of this fight could potentially determine if every GPS in the country continues to work or not.  If that's news to you, you might want to use some of those links above.