Need for Resilient Timing & Sync

Most all networks in the US heavily rely on GPS signals for timing and synchronization. Yet GPS signals are very weak and are locally disrupted on a regular basis by natural and malicious events. Every one of the world's militaries has he ability to easily disrupt GPS signals over broad areas, as do many terrorist organizations. DHS has described GPS as "a single point of failure for critical infrastructure."

NIST has cited the need for resilient time signals as a challenge for IoT (https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2015/03/lack-effective-timing-signals-could-hamper-internet-things-development). The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions has cited it as a problem for telecom
[ATIS-0900005.pdf](https://github.com/GSA/modernization/files/1315829/ATIS-0900005.pdf). The last administration's Cyber Security Commission cited it as a problem, as has the National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations studied the requirements for timing and a resilient complement/backup for GPS. Both decided upon and announced they would establish an eLoran system for the purpose. Neither followed through and network time/sync remains a critical national vulnerability. We are at comparative greater risk than our adversaries Russia, China, and Iran who have versions of Loran to provide a high power, difficult to disrupt terrestrial timing signal. South Korea and Saudi Arabia have similar systems and the UK has one in prototype.

The "Father of GPS." Dr. Brad Parkinson, has recently renewed his call for an eLoran system to protect our critical national GPS/PNT services.

By establishing a public-partnership, the federal government could quickly establish an eLoran system at very low cost (only an annual subscription fee). The government's share of revenue from sale of value added services would quickly exceed its subscription fee, making the system a net revenue generator.

The House has passed legislation on this that is now being considered by the Senate, which confirms the Secretary of Transportation's responsibility to act on a 2004 presidential directive to obtain a system to backup GPS.

I urge the administration to be proactive and work with the Congress to quickly address this issue. An eLoran timing system in the lower 48 could be in operation within 12 months of a service contract/ PPP being established.