The FCC Chair warns about dependence on GPS and proposes to explore "alternatives."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to vote on an investigation aimed at evaluating alternatives to the GPS system, according to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in a blog post. Carr acknowledges that while GPS has been "indispensable," the technology is "not infallible," and disruptions to its functioning could threaten both the economic and national security of the country. He proposes that developing redundant technologies is necessary, which justifies the FCC's decision to proceed with the vote to investigate other Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems that can serve as complements or alternatives to GPS.

In addition to addressing GPS, Carr mentions that the commission will also vote on two proposals related to 911 service technology. The first seeks to update existing regulations to ensure the resilience, reliability, interoperability, and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency technology, which is connected to the Internet and will eventually replace traditional 911 systems. The second proposal focuses on "strengthening our location accuracy rules for 911," aiming to improve the information that first responders receive about the location of callers, including the ability to more accurately pinpoint callers on specific floors within buildings.

These topics are tentatively scheduled to be discussed at the FCC's public meeting on March 27.