Introduction

The Global Positioning System (GPS) Interagency Advisory Council (GIAC) has been established as the result of Recommendation 1 from the Joint DOD/DOT Task Force Report entitled "The Global Positioning System Management and Operation of a Dual Use System." GIAC identifies and addresses civil GPS positioning, navigation, and timing issues for Federal agencies and their customers.

GIAC coordinates closely with the previously established Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC), which has a related mission. CGSIC concentrates on issues related to information exchange and interfacing of the civil aspects of GPS between DOT and non-military users, including foreign interests. There is some necessary overlap between the two groups. To minimize duplication, CGSIC concentrates on activities which have the most direct influence on private and foreign users. GIAC concentrates on matters which most directly effect the Federal sector and allows limited non-Federal input, particularly when Federal policy may have a direct impact on civil usage of GPS. It is the responsibility of the two Chairs to maintain close communications and resolve unnecessary duplication. To facilitate this each Chair serves on both Executive Boards.

GIAC communicates issues and recommends Federal policy relative to civil GPS positioning, navigation, and timing to the DOT Pos/Nav Executive Committee. Final decision-making authority resides with the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy of DOT.

The Secretary of the Interior, as Chair, Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), and the Secretary of Transportation agreed to use FGDC as the organizational base for GIAC. A subcommittee within FGDC, the Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS), is already focused on civil GPS positioning activities and has the responsibility for Federal surveying, geodesy, and related spatial data activities as mandated by OMB Circular A-16. FGCS is chaired by the Director, National Geodetic Survey (NGS), who is designated as Chair, GIAC, and a member of the DOT Pos/Nav Executive Committee.

Federal agencies involved with GPS positioning, navigation, and timing provide representatives to serve on GIAC. This organizational structure maintains ties to the technology and users. Many GPS users are already familiar with FGCS and support the present organization of FGCS. The roles of GIAC are:

1. Provide a Federal forum in order to facilitate the communication of important issues related to Federal GPS users. These issues will be communicated to the DOT Pos/Nav Executive Committee by the GIAC Chair for incorporation into GPS operations and management plans.

2. Collect and document annually all known Federal civil positioning, navigation, and timing uses of GPS and issues affecting such applications. This document will be widely distributed as a yearly report and forwarded to the DOT Pos/Nav Executive Committee.

3. Evaluate the scope and potential impact of proposed DOD changes in GPS operation and management. These impacts will be communicated to the DOT Pos/Nav Executive Committee in a timely manner.

4. Provide quarterly reports of GIAC activities through Federal bulletin boards, the Internet, agency newsletters, and various professional society publications, in order to keep both Federal and non-Federal civilian GPS users informed.

5. To address the broadest spectrum of applications and issues, GIAC representation shall be focused toward Federal agencies and their customers which includes state and local governments, academia, the private sector, consumers, and international users.

Council Composition

The GIAC structure consists of a chair, a deputy chair, an Executive Board, a general committee, and subcommittees. The Executive Board consists of the GIAC deputy chair (who chairs the Executive Board), a representative from CGSIC, and representatives from the following GPS applications areas:

1. Positioning, navigation, and surveying applications--one representative from each of the following: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works Program, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and NGS.

2. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping applications--one representative from each of the following: U.S. Census Bureau (CENSUS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

3. Timing systems applications--one representative from each of the following: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO).

Subcommittees

GIAC may create standing subcommittees, ad hoc subcommittees, or special working groups to identify specific areas of Federal GPS user needs and facilitate technical information exchange. Standing subcommittees will be established for: positioning, navigation, and surveying applications; GIS and mapping applications; and timing systems applications.

Standing subcommittee chairs will be appointed by the Executive Board for a 2-year term.

Administrative Guidelines

The administrative guidelines for GIAC are:

1. The committee will meet as often as needed, but not less than semiannually. The date, time, and location will be announced at least 1 month before each meeting. GIAC will use CGSIC meetings when appropriate to obtain information on non-Federal uses of GPS.

2. A summary record of each meeting should be mailed to members and other attendees as soon as possible (typically 45 days after the meeting). The summary record will be available on NGS' bulletin board service and over the Internet, on the FGCS home page.

3. Attendance is open to any Federal agency with a need to exchange information or provide input regarding Federal GPS requirements, both domestic and international.

4. The Chair, with Executive Board concurrence and support, will coordinate meetings, plan agendas, respond to questions, produce summary reports, maintain membership lists, and annually organize an open forum.