Laws, Acts, and Legislation

HCR 27
As Introduced

View Full Text

(.pdf format)

(.html format)

View Publications Associated with this Resolution

Resolution Analyses

Synopsis of Committee Amendments

Conference Committee Synopsis

Fiscal Notes

Status Report of Legislation

Votes

Other Versions of Resolution and Associated Reports

The online versions of legislation provided on this website are not official. Enrolled bills are the final version passed by the Ohio General Assembly and presented to the Governor for signature. The official version of acts signed by the Governor are available from the Secretary of State's Office in the Continental Plaza, 180 East Broad St., Columbus.

H. C. R. No. 27 As Introduced

As Introduced

129th General Assembly

Regular Session

2011-2012

H. C. R. No. 27

Representative Peterson

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.

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.