Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr today unveiled a forward-looking agenda today at 3:22 PM EST for the agency’s upcoming Open Commission Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025. The tentative lineup, announced via an FCC press release, focuses heavily on enhancing national security and public safety through innovative technology policies, reflecting Carr’s priorities since taking the helm in January. With items ranging from exploring GPS alternatives to bolstering 911 services, the meeting promises to address critical infrastructure challenges facing the United States in an increasingly digital era.
One of the marquee items is a Notice of Inquiry titled “Exploring Alternatives to GPS” (WT Docket No. 25-110). This initiative aims to rally stakeholders across government and industry to develop robust complements or alternatives to the Global Positioning System (GPS), a technology underpinning everything from emergency response to navigation apps. Carr has emphasized the risks of over-reliance on GPS, which he deems vulnerable to disruptions that could threaten economic and national security.
Public safety takes center stage with two additional proposals. The “Ensuring NG911 Resiliency, Reliability, Interoperability, and Accessibility” Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PS Docket Nos. 21-479, 13-75) targets the ongoing transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911). This internet-based system promises enhanced capabilities over legacy 911, but recent outages have exposed gaps in reliability. The FCC’s plan would update rules to ensure NG911 networks remain resilient and interoperable, extending oversight to third-party providers like call-routing services. A complementary item, the “Strengthening 911 Location Accuracy Rules” Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PS Docket No. 07-114), proposes tighter standards for pinpointing wireless 911 callers’ locations. With first responders often hampered by imprecise vertical data—such as floor levels in high-rises—the FCC aims to deliver actionable location info, potentially saving lives by shaving critical minutes off response times.
The agenda closes with a “Restricted Adjudicatory Matter” from the Media Bureau, though details remain confidential due to its sensitive nature. This mix of forward-thinking policy and enforcement reflects Carr’s broader vision, outlined in his Project 2025 chapter, to prioritize national security and public welfare over what he’s called excessive regulation.
Here is how the FCC describes each topic they plan to cover:
Exploring Alternatives to GPS – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that would engage a wide range of stakeholders to build a record on specific actions it can take to help develop complements and alternatives to the Global Positioning System with the goal of ensuring robust and reliable Positioning, Navigation, and Timing technologies and solutions. (WT Docket No. 25-110)
Ensuring NG911 Resiliency, Reliability, Interoperability, and Accessibility – The Commission will consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to safeguard the nation’s Next Generation 911 (NG911) transition by ensuring the reliability and interoperability of NG911 networks. (PS Docket Nos. 21-479, 13-75)
Strengthening 911 Location Accuracy Rules – The Commission will consider a Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to strengthen caller location accuracy requirements for wireless calls to 911. (PS Docket No. 07-114)
Restricted Adjudicatory Matter – The Commission will consider a restricted adjudicatory matter from the Media Bureau.
The March 27 meeting, set to occur just over two months into Carr’s chairmanship, signals a proactive FCC under his leadership. Posts on X from telecom insiders and public safety advocates suggest enthusiasm for the focus on 911 and GPS resilience, though some question the feasibility of rapid NG911 fixes. As the agency prepares to convene, its actions could set a precedent for how technology and emergency services evolve in the years ahead, balancing innovation with the urgent needs of Americans nationwide.
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