The National Corn Growers Association continues to monitor issues surrounding the wireless broadband company LightSquared. While the Federal Communications Commission considers approval of LightSquared’s proposed terrestrial based broadband network, NCGA remains concerned about the effects it would have on precision farming. GPS technology has become an important tool for farmers as they improve their efficiency in seed, fertilizer and fuel usage.

Officials at LightSquared say solutions to the interference problem have been developed by several independent companies. However, NCGA says the company has yet to provide access to either the test results or the devices. NCGA is looking to the FCC and National Telecommunications and Information Administration to ensure the issue has been resolved without loss to accuracy and performance. For now, the FCC and the NTIC continue their evaluation of the GPS interference issue.

NCGA is working closely with John Deere, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the American Soybean Association to ensure the GPS technology remains available to U.S. farmers.