Gps Innovation Alliance

THE ALLIANCE IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO FURTHERING GPS INNOVATION, CREATIVITY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE ALLIANCE SEEKS TO PROTECT, PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE USE OF GPS.

THE YEAR 2021 CONTINUED MOST OF THE CHALLENGES THAT GPSIA, LIKE MOST ORGANIZATIONS, FACED, IN THE PRIOR YEAR DUE TO THE CONTINUING GLOBAL PANDEMIC. AS IN 2020, THE NORMAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, CONFERENCES, GATHERINGS AND MEETINGS WAS LARGELY DISRUPTED BY RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS AND TRAVEL IMPOSED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC CRISIS. IN 2021 WE USED OUR EXPERIENCE IN ADAPTING TO THE NEW VIRTUAL WAY OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS, AND REMAINED VERY ACTIVE ACROSS A BROAD RANGE OF POLICY FRONTS. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME EXPANDED, BUT STILL LIMITED TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXTEND OUR OUTREACH AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION AVENUES, AT LEAST ON THE DOMESTIC FRONT. WHILE OUR ACTIVITY LEVEL AND RANGE OF TOPICAL ISSUES REMAINED HIGH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE CURTAILING OF TRAVEL AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND EVENTS RESULTED IN REDUCED ACTUAL EXPENSES, AND A SOMEWHAT LARGER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.A MORE DETAILED SUMMARY OF GPSIA ACTIVITIES FOLLOWS:CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP GROWTHADDED L3HARRIS AS A NEW GPSIA MEMBER (JANUARY 2021)INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENTPRESENTED AT THE 61ST MEETING OF THE CIVIL GPS SERVICE INTERFACE COMMITTEE (SEPTEMBER 2021)MODERATED PANEL SESSION ON "GEOLOCATION & NAVIGATION SYSTEMS FOR CONNECTED INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT" AT SATELLITE 2021 (SEPTEMBER 2021)NOMINATED TO SERVE ON THE NATIONAL SPACE-BASED POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING ADVISORY BOARD (AUGUST 2021)SPOKE AT A VIRTUAL BRIEFING FOR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF ENTITLED, "SATELLITE-BASED SERVICES AT RISK?" (FEBRUARY 2021)CONGRESSIONAL & FEDERAL AGENCY ADVOCACYDRAFTED LETTER TO CHAIRMAN DOYLE AND RANKING MEMBER LATTA SUPPORTING H.R. 2501, THE SPECTRUM COORDINATION ACT (OCTOBER 2021)ORGANIZED VIRTUAL MEET AND GREET WITH SENIOR STAFF FROM THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY (SEPTEMBER 2021)AUTHORED BLOG POST: "SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: THE RETAIN ACT & U.S. LEADERSHIP ON 5G" (JULY 2021)DRAFTED LETTER TO CHAIRWOMAN JOHNSON AND RANKING MEMBER LUCAS IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE'S HEARING ENTITLED, "SPECTRUM NEEDS FOR OBSERVATIONS IN EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES" (JULY 2021)ORGANIZED VIRTUAL MEET AND GREET WITH LISA HONE, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR FOR BROADBAND AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY TO THE WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL (JUNE 2021)UPDATED GPSIA'S POSITION PAPER ENTITLED, "THE FCC'S LIGADO DECISION THREATENS GPS INNOVATION" (JUNE 2021)ISSUED STATEMENT SUPPORTING BIPARTISAN MAPLAND ACT, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE ROLE THAT GPS TECHNOLOGY PLAYS IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO OUR NATION'S PUBLIC LANDSCO-AUTHORED BLOG POST: "GPS TECHNOLOGY ON THE FRONT LINE IN FIGHTING WILDFIRES" (MAY 2021)ORGANIZED VIRTUAL MEET AND GREET WITH DR. ROBERT HAMPSHIRE, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MAY 2021)SUPPORTED DRAFTING OF LETTER TO FCC'S OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (OET) REGARDING IN-BAND TERRESTRIAL TRANSMISSIONS IN THE GPS BAND (MAY 2021)ORGANIZED VIRTUAL MEET AND GREET WITH REP. MIKIE SHERRILL, NEW CO-CHAIR OF THE HOUSE GPS CAUCUS (FEBRUARY 2021)DRAFTED LETTER TO WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL (NEC) OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENHANCING THE U.S. SPECTRUM DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL SPECTRUM USERS (FEBRUARY 2021)ORGANIZED VIRTUAL MEET AND GREET WITH FCC COMMISSIONER NATHAN SIMINGTON (JANUARY 2021)GPSIA SPONSORED EVENTSORGANIZED WEBINAR ON "GPS, DRONES & FIREFIGHTING" (MAY 2021)MEDIA E AUTHORED FOUR OP-EDS:"GPS OFFERS LESSONS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF TOMORROW" (SPACENEWS, SEPTEMBER 2021)"GPSIA SUPPORTS BIPARTISAN RETAIN ACT" (GPS WORLD, AUGUST 2021)"GPS: THE ENVIRONMENT'S UNSUNG HERO" (GPS WORLD, APRIL 2021)"FIRST FIX: NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GNSS INDUSTRY" (GPS WORLD, JANUARY 2021)INTERVIEWED FOR POLITICO SPACE PROFILE PIECE (FEBRUARY 2021)ISSUED SIX PRESS RELEASES (ON-GOING)QUOTED BY AT LEAST 12 PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING BREAKING DEFENSE, COMMUNICATIONS DAILY, DEFENSE DAILY, GPS WORLD, LAW 360, POLITICO, TR DAILY, AND VIA SATELLITE (ON-GOING)MEMBER ENGAGEMENTORGANIZED GPSIA'S ANNUAL MEETING AND STRATEGY SESSION (SEPTEMBER 2021)FURTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: CHAIRED OPENING SESSION IN WHAT WAS THE FIRST VIRTUAL RUNNING OF THE ANNUAL MUNICH SATELLITE NAVIGATION SUMMIT CONFERENCE, HOSTED BY THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE GERMAN MILITARY, IN MUNICH, GERMANY. WORKED WITH CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS TO COORDINATE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH AND ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION FOR VIRTUAL RUNNING OF THE CONFERENCE.PARTICIPATED VIA VIRTUAL LINK IN THE EUROPEAN SPACE POLICY CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM WHICH PROVIDES INTERFACE OPPORTUNITIES WITH SPACE POLICY AND SATNAV POLICY LEADERS WITHIN THE EU. ARRANGED SEVERAL PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS VIA VIRTUAL MEDIA WITH KEY LEADERS IN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, AND GNSS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY WHO OVERSEE SATELLITE NAVIGATION ACTIVITIES AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE. PARTICPATED IN PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH NEWLY APPOINTED KEY JAPANESE SPACE AND GNSS POLICY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JAPANESE EMBASSY AND THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL SPACE POLICY UNDER THE CABINET OFFICE DURING THEIR VISITS TO WASHINGTON. WAS ABLE INTRODUCE INSIGHTS AND SHARE VIEWS ON OVERALL JAPANESE SPACE POLICY, INCLUDING JAPANESE SATELLITE NAVIGATION PROJECT, QZSS, WHICH WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH GPS. CONDUCTED A SERIES OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH SENIOR LEVEL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON GPS TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL SENSITIVITIES IN ORDER TO HELP GUIDE JAPANESE INITIATIVES WITH THE US AND OTHER NATIONS TO PROVIDE COORDINATED SUPPLEMENTS TO GPS VIA QZSS.TRACKED THE EVOLUTION AND CONTINUING REORGANIZATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EUROPEAN AUTHORITIES OVERSEEING THE GALILEO PROGRAM. KEPT ABREAST OF THE CHANGING RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERSONNEL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY AND THE NEWLY FORMED EUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE SPACE PROGRAMME (EUSPA). GPSIA CONTINUES TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CIVIL G.P.S. SERVICE INTERFACE COMMITTEE (CGSIC), AND WORKS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE AGENDA AND PROGRAM FOR MEETING OF THE CGSIC. THE ANNUAL MEETING FOR CGSIC IN 2021 HAD LIMITED IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE IN ST. LOUIS, BUT WAS WIDELY ATTENDED BY VIRTUAL LINKS. GPSIA TECHNICAL TEAM ACTIVITIESTHE GPSIA TECHNICAL TEAM PROVIDES A UNIQUE FORUM FOR CONNECTING GNSS ALIGNED INTEREST GROUPS AT THE ENGINEERING LEVEL TO IMPACT POLICY AND REGULATORY ISSUES, BASED ON FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW SATELLITE NAVIGATION WORKS. AN OBJECTIVE OF THE GPSIA TECHNICAL TEAM IS TO PROVIDE THE ENGINEERING ANALYSES AND TECHNICAL INSIGHT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE SPECTRUM ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO INNOVATION, RESILIENCE, AND CYBERSECURITY OF GNSS RECEIVER FUNCTIONS. TECH TEAM ACTIVITIES SPAN BOTH US AND INTERNATIONAL SPECTRUM-RELATED ISSUES, AND THERE IS A LOT IN COMMON BETWEEN THE TWO.ACTIVITIES IN THE US HAVE FOCUSED ON DEFENDING THE PROTECTIONS OF GNSS SPECTRA USING THE 1DB DEGRADATION OF C/N0 CRITERION, WHICH PROVIDES A SCIENTIFIC FACT-BASED DEFINITION IN DETERMINING HARMFUL INTERFERENCE TO HGPS DEVICES FOR OTHER SOURCES. THE CRITERION IS USED TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE STAY REQUESTS DURING THE ONGOING REGULATORY DEBATES IN THE LIGADO AUTHORIZATION PENDING BEFORE THE FCC. GPSA TECHTEAM MEMBERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ENGAGED IN THE " INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL REVIEW OF THE [LIGADO] ORDER AND AUTHORIZATION", DIRECTED BY THE FY2021 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT TO BE PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE. THE 1 DB STANDARD IS THE ONLY RELIABLE MECHANISM TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE CONTINUED FUNCTIONING OF GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM ("GPS") AND GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM ("GNSS") RECEIVERS. REASONS FOR ADVOCATING THE 1 DB STANDARD INCLUDE:AVOIDS HARMFUL INTERFERENCE TO GPS RECEIVERSESTABLISHES CONSISTENCY WITH U.S. NATIONAL SPACE POLICY, WHICH SUSTAINS THE OVERALL RADIO FREQUENCY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CRITICAL U.S. SPACE SYSTEMS OPERATE.PROVIDES PROTECTION AGAINST IN-BAND AND ADJACENT-BAND INTERFERING SOURCES, AS ESTABLISHED IN MULTIPLE HISTORICAL PROCEEDINGS.OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE MOST PROMINENT INTERFERENCE THREAT TO THE RADIONAVIGATION SATELLITE SERVICE (RNSS) SPECTRUM IN THE US HAS COME FROM THE FCC AUTHORIZATION OF LIGADO'S ANCILLARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT (ATC). HOWEVER, OTHER ADJACENT BAND INTERFERENCE SOURCES OF CONCERN, EXPLAINED FURTHER BELOW, INCLUDE: GLOBALSTAR (1611-1616 MHZ), INTERNATIONAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (IMT) BAND 74 IN EUROPE (1492-1517 MHZ), CEPT/ECC SE21 WORK ITEM 24, UWB WAIVER REQUESTS TO FCC RULES, EARTH-EXPLORATION SATELLITE SERVICE (EESS) ACTIVE SENSORS IN THE 1215-1300 MHZ BAND, SECONDARY AMATEUR/AMATEUR-SATELLITE TRANSMITTERS IN THE 1240-1300 MHZ BAND, AND IN-BAND INCURSION BY FRENCH STARTUP SYNTONY.