Nearly a year ago, BoatUS began asking recreational boaters, anglers and the marine industry to speak out about the potential loss of reliable GPS.
A private venture, LightSquared, backed by billions of dollars in funding, had plans to build a nationwide 4G broadband cellular telephone network but tests had shown this plan would interfere with GPS signals and create safety concerns. The company recently announced that it filed for bankruptcy after the build-out of the network was halted by the FCC.
“Boaters can appreciate having GPS firsthand,” BoatUS president Margaret Podlich said. “They know it will get them safely home, help them find the best fishing, meet friends for an afternoon raft-up and greatly speed their rescue if the day goes bad. We thank the 18,000 boaters and other GPS users who wrote the FCC asking the guardian of the nation’s airwaves to ensure the future integrity of the GPS signal and the FCC for listening and acting on our concerns.”
