When a big Obama campaign donor had an idea for a wireless system at his company, LightSquared, he needed radio spectrum -- access to some frequencies to use. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was reluctant to approve the spectrum requested, since it was near in frequency to the US Air Force's GPS system (same one we also use for our car navigation).
LightSquared contacted the White House for assistance. Good move, since the FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, is one of Obama's buddies from their days together at Harvard Law. (Genachowski doesn't know much about communications. He probably picked up a few tidbits along the way but he's a lawyer first, nothing much second.)
Of course, the FCC fast-tracked approval for LightSquared, despite potential interference to GPS, which operates in a nearby frequency block. Initial tests showed the new system did interfere.
The White House wanted to keep that news suppressed.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/15/lightsquared-did-white-house-pressure-general-shelton-to-help-donor.html
We need to get new people in positions of authority.
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