House Science Committee Chairman Ralph Hall, R-Texas, and five other...
House Science Committee Chairman Ralph Hall, R-Texas, and five other Republican members of the committee asked Tuesday for communications between LightSquared and the Office of Technology and Policy and the Office of Management and Budget. The letters to the offices,…
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which make several comparisons between LightSquared and the bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra, say “we have no choice but to exercise our oversight authority in the this matter.” The letter also said several agencies didn’t comply with requests for copies of comments provided to NTIA on the LightSquared issue prior to a Sept. 8 House Science Committee Hearing on LightSquared. The non-compliance of those agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Commerce Department, “was the first of many red flags raised about the situation regarding LightSquared,” they said. Hall’s letters also included emails between the White House and LightSquared in which the company sought to set up meetings with White House officials. The White House said it hasn’t acted improperly in the LightSquared process. The FCC “is an independent agency with its own standards and procedures for considering these types of decisions and we respect that process,” a White House spokesman said by email. “In fact,” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski “expressly said the White House never lobbied FCC on LightSquared,” the spokesman said. “And, further, before the FCC granted a conditional waiver to LightSquared, the NTIA sent a letter to the FCC stating the Administration’s official position that LightSquared should not be allowed to move forward unless interference issues were resolved. Indeed, every Administration witness testifying at every hearing on LightSquared has been explicit in identifying the problems for GPS, and the need to resolve interference problems before LightSquared is allowed to move forward. Despite the fact that LightSquared personnel contacted Administration officials to tout their company, Administration officials have continued to voice serious concerns about the interference."