Public safety and national security leaders continue to voice strong support for advancing resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities, urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move forward on NextNav’s petition to enable a terrestrial complement and backup to GPS.
Chief David Povlitz, Arlington County Fire Department
The Fire Chief for Arlington County, Virginia, submitted a letter highlighting the real-world challenges firefighters face in high-rise buildings, underground spaces, and modern structures where GPS is often unavailable. He emphasizes that emergency response is inherently three-dimensional and that reliable vertical and horizontal location is critical to finding trapped civilians and downed firefighters indoors.
Read the letter: FCC.Ex.Parte.PNT.NoRM.Povlitz.David.2025.12.14.pdf
Vice Admiral H. Wyman Howard II (Ret.)
Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral H. Wyman Howard II underscored the national security risks, citing adversary jamming and spoofing in modern conflicts. Drawing on decades of military experience, he calls for a layered, system-of-systems approach to PNT resiliency.
Read the letter: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/121276146754/1
Chief Brian F. Nardelli, City of Brockton Fire Department
Brockton, MA Fire Chief Brian Nardelli detailed how GPS limitations indoors and in dense urban environments delay rescues and put firefighters at risk. Referencing real-world tragedies and day-to-day operational challenges, he stresses that accurate indoor location is essential for accountability and firefighter safety.
Read the letter: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/121562733055/1