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Mid-East Nebraska | 1 June 2011
To: Ag & Turf Combination Dealers (US Only)
Turf & Utility Independent Dealers
Subject: IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
Act Now – Urge the FCC to Reconsider LightSquared Waiver
I am writing to request your help on an issue that could adversely impact our John Deere farmer customers and millions of other GPS users. As you may be aware, Deere is working with many organizations to seek reconsideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of a conditional waiver granted to LightSquared Subsidiary LLC in January 2011, after an abbreviated public-notice process.
The FCC’s decision would allow LightSquared to dramatically expand the use of spectrum adjacent to the Global Positioning System (GPS) spectrum, likely leading to severe interference with GPS technology.
Such interference would have devastating effects on the United States military, emergency responders, aviation, agricultural producers, and others who rely on GPS for everyday needs. In terms of John Deere’s farmer customers, failure to protect high-precision, augmented GPS services would adversely impact fertilizer and pesticide efficiencies, along with yield and variable rate applications. Ultimately, farm operations would have to absorb higher seed, fertilizer, fuel, and wage costs.
In a letter to the FCC, Congressmen Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) and Colin Peterson (MN-7) raise valid concerns regarding the process used in granting the waiver. I ask that you take a few minutes to contact your Member of Congress with a request to sign on to the Neugebauer/Peterson letter. Their letter insists final approval should only be granted if LightSquared can unequivocally prove that the proposal will not interfere with GPS usage.
Members of Congress care about, listen to, and respond to feedback from constituents like each of us. Please take a few moments to send a communication on this to your U.S. Representative by using the www.JDGAIN.com tool.
Here is a step-by-step guide on using this tool:
• Click on www.JDGAIN.com
• You will be asked for a password.
• Enter your password as: johndeere1
• Click “OK”.
• This leads to the JDGAIN home page.
• Click on the “Take Action” graphic on the right side of the page.
• This leads to the “Grassroots Action Center – Active Issue” page.
• Click on “Urge the FCC to Reconsider LightSquared Waiver”
• If you have used this tool before, you can use the “Quick Login” by entering your e-mail and zip code. If not, you can click on “new users click here”, and enter your personal information. This personal information will help identify your Member of Congress and populate the communication you are sending.
John Deere Ag & Turf Division – Region 4
• Click “Continue” when finished.
• You will then be taken to the “Compose Message” page. There you will see the Members of Congress to whom you message is going. More importantly, you will find the already prepared text of the communication that will go to your Members of Congress. Review and revise as you see fit, and click on “Send Message”.
Thanks in advance for your participation in this important call-to-action. With only a few minutes of work, you can help influence policies that will impact John Deere farmer customers and millions of GPS users around the nation.
Edited by motram5455 6/9/2011 08:37
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Urge the FCC to Reconsider LightSquared Waiver
