OVERNIGHT TECH: LightSquared to tout new test results

THE LEDE: Wireless company LightSquared will tout independent test results at a press conference on Wednesday that the company claims show further progress in its efforts to mitigate interference problems with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.

Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.), former Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), and former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) will appear on Capitol Hill with LightSquared's CEO, Sanjiv Ahuja, to announce the results and discuss how LightSquared's network could benefit rural consumers. 

A LightSquared consultant said the test results will show the company can minimize interference with sensitive high-precision devices.

LightSquared plans to offer a wholesale wireless broadband service, but government testing early this year showed its network interferes with GPS devices. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials have said they will not give the company final approval to launch its network until it resolves the interference problems.

Republican lawmakers have questioned whether the White House and the FCC have shown inappropriate favoritism towards LightSquared during the regulatory review. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has threatened to block President Obama's two FCC nominees unless the agency releases internal documents related to its review of LightSquared.

Copps to leave FCC: Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps officially announced his resignation from the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, confirming his plans to depart at the end of the year.

Reactions

"Commissioner Michael Copps has been a great teacher, colleague and friend. I applaud his deep and abiding respect for public service during the past forty-one years, his unflagging dedication to American consumers, and the passion and eloquence of his public statements. We will long remember and be inspired by the work of Commissioner Copps to give voice to the voiceless and to fight for the public interest." — FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

“I’ve always admired Michael Copps. He is a communications colossus and a stalwart defender of the public interest. Mike Copps leaves an enduring legacy of unmatched achievement touching every corner of telecommunications policy, benefitting consumers, competition, choice and our entire country. As he leaves the FCC, Mike will remain a vigilant and tenacious 'Copps' on the beat for public media, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” — Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.)

ON TAP WEDNESDAY:

The House Judiciary subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet will hold a hearing on oversight of the antitrust enforcement agencies. Some lawmakers have criticized the Justice Department's antitrust division for suing to block AT&T's proposed takeover of T-Mobile.

ICYMI: 

The House Homeland Security Committee subcommittee on Cybersecurity began hammering out the details of its legislative proposal on Tuesday morning as lawmakers from both parties focused on finding consensus.

Supporters of televised Supreme Court arguments said Tuesday there’s no reason for the justices to fear broader public access to their hearings — including the landmark case over President Obama’s healthcare law.

Public Knowledge and Free Press slammed Verizon for reportedly blocking a mobile application developed by Google, saying the incident shows that the government needs to adopt tougher regulations of wireless Internet providers.

Ten House Democrats wrote to the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday urging the agency to preserve the rules that ensure competition and diversity among local media outlets.

Lawmakers on the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence probed the threat of terrorists using social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to attract followers at a hearing on Tuesday.

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