From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov Transcript for: Watchdog Report: Global Positioning System (GPS) Modernization Efforts Audio interview by GAO staff with Cristina Chaplain, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management Associated Report Number: GAO-10-636, Global Positioning System: Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Capabilities Persist Released on: September 20, 2010 [ Narrator: ] Welcome to GAO's Watchdog Report, your source for news and information from the Government Accountability Office. It's September 20, 2010. In 1973, the U.S. Air Force began developing the Global Positioning System, or GPS, which now provides location, navigation, and timing information to users worldwide. The Air Force is currently in the process of bringing GPS technology into the 21st century. A group led by Cristina Chaplain, a Director in GAO's Acquisition and Sourcing Management Team, recently examined the Air Force's GPS modernization project. GAO's Scott Golden sat down with Cristina to learn more. [ Scott Golden: ] What are the responsibilities of the Air Force in modernizing the Global Positioning System, GPS? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] The Air Force is responsible for developing the satellites, launching the satellites, maintaining the GPS constellation, and procuring some user equipment for the military services. [ Scott Golden: ] What challenges does the Air Force face in meeting their responsibilities? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] Right now the Air Force is basically racing against time. They want to put in brand-new satellites before old ones die out, and in time to maintain the continuity of service that we've all come to expect from GPS. The current program, for example, is 3 years behind schedule, so that puts additional time pressure on the Air Force. We've noted that they have been following good practices in meeting their time goals, but there are still a lot of challenges ahead for them in developing new technologies, fabricating the satellites, and getting them out on time. [ Scott Golden: ] GAO has in the past evaluated the state of GPS. How do GAO's findings this year differ from those in last year's report on GPS? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] In terms of the development of the satellite itself, last year we reported that the Air Force structured the new GPS program to prevent mistakes made on the previous program, but that the schedule was optimistic. This year we found that the new program is still on track, it's meeting its goals, it is still adopting best practices, but we do still have concerns about the schedule. In terms of the availability of the GPS constellation, last year we reported that acquisition delays could have an impact on availability both in the near term and the far term. This year we're reporting that the availability of the GPS constellation has improved, but in the longer term a delay in the launch of satellites could still reduce the size of the constellation to fewer than 24 operational satellites. This is the number that the U.S. government commits to, and going below it means that it might not meet the needs of some high-end users. [ Scott Golden: ] I know you've examined the GPS interagency requirements process. Can you talk about that process and what it entails? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] Government agencies, if they want to use GPS for various purposes, they need to submit their requirements through an interagency process. They go through an interagency forum, and once that forum decides this is truly a GPS requirement, it gets submitted to the Department of Defense and it goes through their requirements process. [ Scott Golden: ] Why is it so important to prevent an interruption to GPS service and is there expected to be any immediate impact on consumers who use GPS on their phones or in their cars? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] We don't expect any immediate impact on consumers. What may seem like an unnoticeable blip to consumers with GPS in their cars could have more significant implications onto high-precision users, and by this I'm talking about the military and other high-end users that need the extreme measures of accuracy that GPS can provide. But for your typical consumer, I don't think there is a need to worry about GPS. [ Scott Golden: ] What are the recommendations GAO is making to make sure the Air Force is successful in its update of GPS? [ Cristina Chaplain: ] We're making very nearly the same recommendations we made last year. We primarily want the Department of Defense as a whole to exert stronger leadership over the GPS program. Nearly every military service has a stake in it; there's different components of the program in terms of ground systems, satellite systems, and user equipment, and we just believe there needs to be stronger leadership from the top to make sure all the elements of GPS progress in alignment. Another recommendation that we have this year that is new is to strengthen guidance for this interagency requirements process. A lot of agencies we talked to found it somewhat confusing; they had different interpretations about what different aspects of the process meant, so there's a lot that can be done to just bring clarity to the process if some good guidance was issued. This is not a time to panic over GPS at all, but rather a time to be concerned and to make sure we have the right management attentions and resources on satellite development. [ Background Music ] [ Narrator: ] To learn more, visit GAO's Web site at gao.gov, and be sure to tune in to the next edition of GAO's Watchdog Report for more from the congressional watchdog, the Government Accountability Office.