Note to Senate on LightSquared: I'd Like Some Free Spectrum Too

In the latest -- and quite lunatic move -- in the never ending LightSquared saga, The Hill reported Tuesday that Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked the Federal Communications Commission to find some alternative spectrum for the company as the agency effectively killed LightSquared's plans to develop a national broadband network on frequencies that caused interference with GPS receivers .

"In the short-term, we urge you to work with industry and the relevant federal agencies to find consensus on alternate spectrum for LightSquared's proposed network," the two senators asked FCC chairman Julius Genachowski in a March 29 letter obtained by The Hill.

Since spectrum that can blanket the country fetches billions of dollars at auction, this sure seems like a gift to LightSquared, which did not buy its terrestrial spectrum, but persuaded the FCC to conditionally allow it to operate 40,000 cellular base stations as an expansion of its satellite business.

That approach foundered after a range of tests showed that LightSquared's network wreaked havoc on all kinds of GPS receivers. Now, LightSquared faces potential bankruptcy, unless the FCC finds the company some alternate spectrum, a challenge akin to finding vacant land in Manhattan.

And, if the FCC does find some alternative spectrum for LightSquared, I would like a similar billion dollar gift.