2 September 1999
Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html

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[Federal Register: August 31, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 168)]
[Notices]
[Page 47489-47490]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au99-65]

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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: Please 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 jkim@ta.doc.gov. 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 United 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
