While the Bush plan expresses concern about GPS security, it also shifts responsibility away from the military, creating an executive committee to manage the global satellite system that will be co-chaired by the Defense Department and the Transportation Department. The policy explicitly recognizes the extent to which civilian and commercial infrastructure has come to depend on GPS, and states the importance of maintaining and upgrading the system. It also reflects concerns that GPS’s pre-eminence is threatened by the Galileo system, under development in Europe. “We take the challenge of Galileo seriously. We intend to retain leadership,” said Jeffrey Shane, DOT undersecretary for policy, Government Computer News reported. The U.S. and the European Union are exploring ways to ensure interoperability between the two systems, Shane said.
…As Oversight Shifts Away From Military
Key Takeaways:
- The Bush plan shifts GPS management from solely the military to an executive committee co-chaired by the Defense and Transportation departments, acknowledging widespread civilian and commercial dependence.
- The policy emphasizes maintaining and upgrading the GPS system, despite security concerns, due to its critical importance.
- The U.S. views Europe's Galileo system as a threat to GPS leadership and intends to retain pre-eminence, actively exploring interoperability between the two systems.
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