[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 31, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47489-47490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22566]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Global Positioning System (GPS) Spectrum Protection Report to 
Congress

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments on Global Positioning system 
(GPS) spectrum report to Congress.

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SUMMARY: An interagency working group chaired by the Department of 
Defense requests comments and recommendations from industry and end 
users relating to the development of a report to Congress addressing 
the national strategy for protection of the radionavigation spectrum 
used by GPS. All persons and firms having relevant views on this 
subject are invited to reply through the Department of Defense.

DATES: Pleas submit comments by November 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of Space Commercialization, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Room 4817, Washington, DC 20230. Materials may be faxed to 202-482-5173 
or transmitted via email to [email protected]. Comments can also be sent 
via the following website URL which will contain a reprint of this RFC: 
http://www.ta.doc.gov/space.spectrum.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Y. Kim, Policy Analyst, 202-482-
6125.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to guard against disruption of GPS 
services that are vital to the national security and economic interests 
of the Untied States, the Department of Defense is preparing a report, 
at the request of Congress, setting forth a national strategy to: ``(1) 
protect the integrity of the Global Positioning System frequency 
spectrum against interference and disruption; (2) achieve full and 
effective use by GPS of radio frequency spectrum currently allocated by 
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for transmission of 
satellite navigation signals; and (3) provide for any additional 
allocation of spectrum necessary for GPS evolution.'' The report is 
required under Section 8137 of the Department of Defense Appropriations 
Act of 1999.
    The Government is issuing this public Request for Comments in the 
hope of developing an appropriate overall national strategy that 
incorporates and reflects the important interests of the industry and 
end users. For the purposes of this RFC, all commercial, terrestrial, 
and space-based radionavigation and radio communication users and 
ventures are invited to participate, including, but not limited to, GPS 
equipment manufactures, satellite manufactures, users of GPS equipment 
and services. In addition, we seek comment from any entity that (1) 
uses or has an interest in the protection of the radionavigation 
spectrum used by GPS in general, or (2) has an interest in other 
spectrum bands on which the services may be required to configure their 
operations to accommodate provision of GPS. Responses to this RFC 
should include any plans for collection and analysis of test and 
demonstration data, and recommendations for additional filings for both 
space-based and ground-based services, as appropriate, to meet civil 
safety-of-life applications within existing international spectrum 
bands allocated for radionavigation satellite operations.
    An interagency working group chaired by the Department of Defense 
and including participants from the Department of Commerce (which 
includes the National Department of Commerce (which includes the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration), Department 
of State, Department of Transportation, Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
will review all replies.

[[Page 47490]]

The staff of the Federal Communications Commission will provide 
technical assistance in the preparation of this report. A single 
hardcopy and softcopy is requested for all submittals. Appropriately 
labeled competition-sensitive or proprietary data will be protected as 
required. This is not a request for proposal and it shall not be 
construed as a commitment by the government to issue a solicitation or 
ultimately award a contract.

    Dated: August 25, 1999.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 99-22566 Filed 8-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-M