WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a statement last week that says plans to expand signals spectrum for cellular phone use – including Internet-ready smart phones – will interfere with global positioning systems (GPS) and that there is probably no way to fix the problem at present.

“NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), the federal agency that coordinates spectrum uses for the military and other federal government entities, has now concluded that there is no practical way to mitigate potential interference at this time,” the letter from FCC spokeswoman Tammy Sun reads.

“Consequently, the commission will not lift the prohibition on LightSquared. The International Bureau of the commission is proposing to 1.) vacate the Conditional Waiver Order, and 2.) suspend indefinitely LightSquared’s Ancillary Terrestrial Component authority to an extent consistent with the NTIA letter. A public notice seeking comment on NTIA’s conclusions and on these proposals will be released tomorrow.”

LightSquared is the company that wanted to expand the broadband network. The American Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) was one of the organizations trying to stop LightSquared. Last week it celebrated its achievement, describing itself in a statement as a founding member of the Coalition to Save Our GPS.

“AEM and other coalition members have been concerned that LightSquared’s plan could interfere extensively with technologically advanced GPS applications as those used in precision agriculture, which provide greater productivity and efficient use of inputs in modern farming,” an AEM statement reads.

Agriculture groups opposed to LightSquared’s plans also issued statements praising the FCC’s findings and recommendations. The American Soybean Assoc. (ASA), for example, praised the latest development.

“Tuesday’s decision by the FCC is certainly a great relief for more than 600,000 soybean farmers across the country who use GPS technology to precision-apply seed and fertilizer; to test fields for fertility and to monitor yields; to reduce chemical and fuel use; and to map field boundaries, roads, irrigation systems,” said Steve Wellman, ASA president and a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb.

“In short, GPS technology has enabled farmers to produce more food for a growing world population with fewer inputs. Farmers invest thousands of dollars in high-precision GPS equipment and applications to run more efficient, sustainable, cost-effective and productive farms.

“The LightSquared network would have rendered that investment – not to mention the consumer GPS market projected to reach almost $29 billion in the U.S. by 2015 – all but useless. The FCC’s decision is one that is in the best interests of both the American farmer and the American consumer,” he concluded.

Wellman said his organization recognizes what he called the “pressing need” for better broadband service, especially in rural America.

LightSquared issued its own statement, dated Feb. 14. It says the company “profoundly disagrees” with the government’s findings and recommendations. It called the testing process “severely flawed” because it relies on “obsolete and niche devices.” It says the government’s findings should be taken with a grain of salt.

“Despite LightSquared’s success in finding technical solutions and the acknowledgement by a senior government official that GPS receivers are specifically designed to rely on spectrum licenses to LightSquared, it is extremely disappointing that this recommendation was made today,” the statement says.

On Feb. 15, a day after the FCC issued its announcement, it also issued a public notice seeking comments on recommendations that were given to it in a letter written by the NTIA. The eight-page letter details findings of tests conducted to determine the extent of interference the new network could cause with various GPS devices and systems.

The notice invites “interested parties” to comment by March 1 on the FCC’s recommendations, which include indefinite suspension of LightSquared’s current plans for an expanded network. Documents and instructions for commenters are available online at www.fcc.gov/document/comment-sought-letter-ntia-regarding-lightsquared-network