House Armed Services Subpanels Seek DOD Spectrum Plan Fixes, PNT Backup in FY22 NDAA

The House Armed Services Committee Cyber Subcommittee’s proposed language for the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, released Wednesday, aims to improve DOD implementation of its October 2020 spectrum strategy and the department’s adjustment of its systems before the FCC’s planned auction of spectrum on the 3.45-3.55 GHz band. It doesn’t mention panel members’ ongoing misgivings with Ligado’s planned L-band operations. Some lobbyists believe full committee leaders may attempt to attach the anti-Ligado Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary (Retain) for GPS and Satellite Communications Act (HR-4634/S-2166) to the NDAA (see 2107230065). House Armed Services’ full committee NDAA markup is set for Sept. 1. Cyber’s NDAA language would require DOD to make a single “senior official” responsible for implementing the department’s October 2020 spectrum strategy and future iterations. DOD proposed using “dynamic and bidirectional sharing for facilitating access to commercial spectrum” (see 2010290061). The subcommittee proposes the designated senior official and other DOD agencies brief House Armed Services on how the department’s plan for aligning adjustments to systems affected by the 3.45 GHz auction will align with the October spectrum strategy. The subpanel wants DOD to submit a report to congressional defense committees examining the effectiveness of DOD spectrum operations. House Armed Services’ Strategic Forces Subcommittee proposes directing the Air Force and other space-focused DOD officials to brief the committee by the end of 2021 on plans for deploying an “alternate” GPS positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) constellation. The Air Force “must prioritize GPS resiliency by ensuring” DOD “has an alternate PNT capability available should GPS be denied,” Strategic Forces said in its bill report. House Infrastructure Committee members invoked the need for a GPS timing signals backup during a March hearing with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (see 2103250071).