OVERNIGHT TECH: LightSquared blames GPS makers for interference

THE LEDE: LightSquared submitted its updated plan for a national wireless broadband network on Monday in which the firm acknowledged the network would interfere with global positioning system devices but blamed GPS makers for the problem. LightSquared claims the devices are designed to use spectrum assigned to other licensee by the FCC. The firm also suggested the issue could be resolved by adding filters to GPS devices that cost less than a nickel each. LightSquared has already moved its planned service to a block of spectrum farther from the airwaves used by GPS.

A coalition representing GPS makers shot back quickly, dismissing LightSquared's report and arguing the firm's proposal defies the laws of physics. They argue LightSquared's plans would cause widespread interference that would cripple the GPS systems relied upon by millions of Americans everyday. Garmin and John Deere were among the firms voicing opposition to the updated plan.

Reaction from an FCC spokesman: "The Commission appreciates the hard work the working group has contributed to this report. The FCC has a long-standing record of resolving interference disputes based on engineering data. As is customary, the agency's expert staff will now conduct a thorough and expeditious review of the report. As Chairman Genachowski has said before, we will not permit LightSquared to begin commercial service without first resolving our concerns about potential harmful interference to GPS devices.

Nevertheless, our nation cannot afford to let spectrum go underutilized. America's economic growth and global competitiveness are on the line. The Commission is confident in the public process underway designed to determine whether LightSquared's mobile broadband offering can coexist with services provided by GPS for the benefit of our nation."

Former AMD official indicted pleads guilty to insider trading: Former Advanced Micro Devices employee Mark Anthony Longoria pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to charges he passed along insider information include billing and revenue numbers to a hedge fund in New York City. Longoria also provided insider information on his former employer Wester Digital in 2006. He faces a maximum of 50 years in prison and will be sentenced on Friday.

Judge says Google could be liable for Wi-Spy incident under Wiretap Act: A federal judge found Thursday that Google could be liable for intercepting data from public WiFi networks as part of last year's Street View controversy. Google has acknowledged downloading payload data including emails, passwords and URLs but argued it did nothing illegal because the networks were unsecured.

Northern District Court of California Judge James Ware rejected that argument and refused to dismiss several class action lawsuits, finding that wireless communications are protected under the Wiretap Act in the same manner as cellphone conversations. The ruling could have broader implications for the security of public WiFi networks.

House Republican wants new retrans rules this year: Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) wrote to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski on Wednesday urging the agency to issue new rules ahead of this year's retransmission negotiations. King notes more than a thousand carriage agreements are set to expire by the end of 2011 and said Pay-TV providers are looking for certainty in the form of final rules that will govern this year's negotiations between themselves and broadcasters.

Smartphones are majority of new cell purchases: Fifty-five percent of people surveyed by Nielsen in May reported buying a smartphone instead of a standard cell phone, up from 34 percent a year ago. Android remains the most popular smartphone platform with 38 percent of the market, followed by Apple at 27 percent and RIM's BlackBerry with 21 percent.

White House to host Twitter townhall on July 6th: Users will be able to ask the President questions using the hashtag "#AskObama"

White House called MSNBC over Halperin remark: White House press secretary Jay Carney said he called officials at MSNBC to convey to the cable station the administration's anger toward a remark made by an analyst Thursday morning. Washington was abuzz Thursday after journalist Mark Halperin used a profane term to describe President Obama's tone during Wednesday's press conference.

200 Million. The number of Tweets sent per day as of June 30, according to the Twitter Blog.

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Happy Independence Day and enjoy the long weekend.

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