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H. C. R. No. 27 As IntroducedAs Introduced
| 129th General Assembly | | Regular Session | | 2011-2012 |
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Cosponsors:
Representatives Derickson, Buchy, Hayes, Adams, R., Grossman, Gonzales, Hill, Adams, J., Damschroder
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION | To urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
to reconsider the FCC order granting the broadband
network provider, LightSquared, conditional
authority to construct cellular base stations that
may interfere with the frequency used by global
positioning systems upon which precision
agriculture and other activities rely.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):
| WHEREAS, The use of high-speed broadband technology and
global positioning systems (GPS) have changed the way Ohioans live
and do business throughout the state by offering a wealth of
opportunities for all Ohioans; and |
| WHEREAS, Having become an integral part of everyday life, GPS
devices are used for many purposes including responding to
emergencies, surveying construction and other sites, tracking
freight and fleet vehicles, finding business or restaurant
locations, navigating bodies of water, and even finding lost pets
and, as a result, GPS devices allow Ohioans to respond to
emergencies more efficiently, improve business practices, and
pursue leisure activities such as sailing, hiking, geocaching, and
planning road trips; and |
| WHEREAS, For the many farms in the state and the nation that
rely on GPS devices and software, GPS service has become an
indispensible tool to collect accurate geographical data to map
field boundaries, roads, and irrigation systems, to collect data
to increase crop yields, and to accurately pinpoint specific field
locations year after year; and |
| WHEREAS, Precision agriculture using GPS services allows
farmers to increase their productivity through precision planting
and targeted application of fertilizers and chemicals to improve
crops and combat weeds and crop diseases; and |
| WHEREAS, GPS technology makes it possible for farmers to work
in fields under low-visibility conditions due to rain, dust, fog,
or darkness; and |
| WHEREAS, The accuracy of GPS services affords farmers the
ability to limit input costs, to operate more efficiently and
economically, and to be more environmentally friendly; and |
| WHEREAS, The economic stability of rural Ohio and the farming
community would be adversely impacted if GPS services were
disrupted by interference from high-speed broadband services
operated over frequencies on the L-band spectrum currently used by
low-powered satellite-based GPS; and |
| WHEREAS, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
granted conditional approval for the broadband network provider,
LightSquared, to construct high-powered cellular base stations as
part of its effort to create a nationwide wireless network
integrated with satellite coverage; and |
| WHEREAS, Such base stations may create untenable disruptions
to GPS receivers resulting in a direct economic impact that is
estimated to be $19.9 billion annually within the nation's
agriculture industry; and |
| WHEREAS, Such disruptions also will interfere with the
GPS-dependent activities of Ohioans as they go about their
business and recreational activities; now therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 129th General Assembly
of the state of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, urge the FCC to
reconsider its order granting LightSquared conditional authority
to proceed with cellular base station construction; and be it
further |
| RESOLVED, That the FCC address the concerns about GPS
interference held by incumbent broadband spectrum users regarding
LightSquared's cellular base station proposal; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That LightSquared's request to operate a nationwide
network of cellular base stations be considered as a reallocation
of spectrum subject to public comment and participation under
different rules than used previously; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the FCC establish and direct a more effective
process to scientifically evaluate the impact of cellular base
stations proposed by LightSquared and any interference the
stations may cause with GPS services and, during the process, as
this new technology is considered for the L-band, that the FCC
draw upon its engineering prowess, institutional knowledge, and
laboratory facilities to ensure that the process is open and
impartial with sufficient time allotted for public input from
existing users and technical experts; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the
Chairperson of the FCC, the President of the United States, the
Secretary of the United States Senate, the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, the members of the Ohio
Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio. |
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