The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to reduce America’s dependence on GPS, opening possibilities for alternative satellite systems like SpaceX’s Starlink to fill crucial gaps. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced plans to ask the commission to vote on launching a formal inquiry into GPS alternatives later this month, check out Carr’s FCC post Boosting GPS and 911 for the USA.
While GPS has become essential for mapping and location services worldwide, it operates under a single provider—the US Department of Defense—through a network of 31 satellites. Concentration creates potential vulnerabilities that have worried officials for years.
“Our economy and national security depend on the U.S. GPS system—or, more precisely, the positioning, navigation, & timing (PNT) data it provides,” Carr stated on social media platform X. “Continuing to rely so heavily on one system leaves us exposed. And the threats to GPS are only going to increase.”
FCC Pushes for GPS Alternatives as Chair Carr Cites Security Vulnerabilities
The risks to GPS include foreign governments and hackers who can jam signals or engage in “spoofing”—creating false location data that could misdirect vehicles, ships, and aircraft. These vulnerabilities represent significant national security concerns.
Congress recognized these issues in 2018 when it passed the National Timing Resilience and Security Act to establish GPS backup systems. Followed Obama administration efforts to protect existing GPS infrastructure and develop alternatives. Despite these initiatives, progress has moved slowly.
The first Trump administration promoted GPS backup development, though critics pointed to standardization problems. Meanwhile, Department of Transportation has been working on its own track, recently awarding $7 million in contracts to nine complementary PNT technology vendors for real-world testing aimed at accelerating adoption.
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network has emerged as a promising GPS alternative. System’s Doppler-only positioning capability can provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing information.
Research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute demonstrated that Starlink satellites offer continuous coverage, with at least five satellites visible from virtually any point on Earth. Study also found that the spatial diversity achieved with just four Starlink satellites compares favorably to what eight traditional satellites can provide.
The FCC push for GPS alternatives reflects growing recognition that domestic control over positioning systems represents a strategic advantage. Global economy has become deeply integrated with services enabled by global positioning technology, yet these systems remain vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and even physical removal from orbit.
Creating redundant, domestically controlled alternatives to GPS would significantly enhance America’s resilience against both deliberate attacks and technical failures. FCC’s formal inquiry could accelerate the development and deployment of these crucial backup systems.
As nations around the world increase their capabilities to disrupt satellite-based services, the need for GPS alternatives becomes more urgent. FCC’s move signals that positioning systems may soon navigate away from single-point dependencies.
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