GE-Manufactured Lighting On L.A. Property Causes Verizon LTE Network Interference

After multiple complaints to the FCC, the regulator has formally cited the property owner responsible for the Ernst & Young Plaza in Los Angeles, Brookfield Office Properties for interfering with the Verizon Wireless LTE network by having fluorescent lighting installed throughout the property that is known to cause high levels of RF interference that can disrupt operation.

The lighting that the property owner is being cited for and is causing the interference in question is manufactured by a division of General Electric that specializes in industrial lighting products and is a product that the conglomerate has previously admitted can cause cellular network interference due to some batches of inventory featuring a defective ballast design.

Verizon first noticed the problem in April 2013 and has asked both the FCC and Brookfield to resolve the issue, with Brookfield stating it was investigating the problem, but has not said much else. Verizon again complained to the FCC in December that the problem was still not solved when the FCC then verified the problem still exists and in response, cited the building owner.

The FCC now wants a formal response from Brookfield with detailed explanations of how it will fix the problem within the next 60 days or it faces hefty fines for operating industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) equipment in violation of FCC rules. Fluorescent lighting is classed under the aforementioned rules by the FCC, which means that the regulator closely monitors such products for compliance with proper tolerances for operation, design and installation to minimize interference with other types of broadcast signals.