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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Charter of the
National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board

1. Official Designation: National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board ("PNT Advisory Board").

2. Authority: National Security Presidential Directive-39 (NSPD-39). NSPD-39 authorized a new national U.S. Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy ("U.S. PNT Policy") on December 8, 2004, that established guidance and implementation actions for space-based positioning, navigation, and timing programs, augmentations, and activities for U.S. national and homeland security, civil, scientific, and commercial purposes. PNT consists of the services provided by the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), its augmentations, and associated back-up systems. NSPD-39 established a permanent National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Executive Committee ("PNT EXCOM"), co-chaired by the Deputy Secretaries of the Departments of Defense and Transportation, or by their designated representatives, and currently comprised of representatives at the equivalent level from the Department of State, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At the request of the PNT EXCOM for NASA to continue sponsorship of the PNT Advisory Board, NASA hereby reestablishes the PNT Advisory Board for two years. Sponsorship of the PNT Advisory Board is considered part of NASA's contribution towards PNT Policy implementation and is done so on behalf of the above-listed nine stakeholder Federal agencies. The PNT Advisory Board is also being established in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities: NASA, in close coordination with the PNT EXCOM, will task the PNT Advisory Board and define the full scope of activities and schedules required to accomplish such tasks based on emerging national and international PNT developments. As authorized by the DFO, the PNT Advisory Board work may be organized and supported by committees, subcommittees, task forces, and expert consultants to ensure taskings are appropriately completed in a timely manner in consultation with the PNT Board Chair or Vice Chair. The PNT Advisory Board will operate solely in an advisory capacity as directed by the U.S. PNT Policy and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.

4. Description of Duties: The PNT Advisory Board will provide advice, as directed by the PNT EXCOM and through NASA, on U.S PNT policy, planning, program management, and funding profiles in relation to the current state of national and international space-based PNT services. This advice will consist of assessments and recommendations to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals and objectives of the U.S. PNT Policy on behalf of the PNT EXCOM. The PNT Advisory Board will evaluate national and international needs for changes in space-based PNT capabilities, assess possible trade-offs among options, and provide independent advice and recommendations to the PNT EXCOM on requirements and program needs. These evaluations will be considered by the PNT EXCOM in recommending a national PNT strategy and in developing annual updates to the requisite U.S. PNT Policy 5-Year Plan. The United States reserves the right to hold "U.S.-only" meetings of the PNT Advisory Board, as required, in full compliance with the FACA and related U.S. statutes and regulations.

5. Official to Whom the Committee Reports: The PNT Advisory Board Chair or Vice-Chair will report findings, recommendations, and tasking progress to the PNT EXCOM, of which NASA is a member.

6. Support: The NASA Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program within the Space Operations Mission Directorate (SOMD) shall provide staff support and operating funds for the PNT Advisory Board and is responsible for fulfilling the reporting requirements of section 6(b) of FACA.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years: The estimated annual operating costs are $170,000, which includes the approximate costs for meeting logistics, travel, report generation, subordinate meetings, and U.S. Government staff support. U.S. Government staff support is expected to require 0.5 work years of effort.

8. Designated Federal Officer: The Executive Director of the PNT Advisory Board shall be appointed by the NASA Administrator and will serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). The DFO will be either a full-time or a permanent part-time employee, who will: call, attend, and adjourn committee meetings; approve agendas; maintain required records on costs and membership; ensure efficient operations; maintain records for availability to the public; and provide copies of committee reports to the NASA Committee Management Officer (CMO) for forwarding to the Library of Congress.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings: The PNT Advisory Board will seek to meet approximately twice each fiscal year. Meetings will be open to the public unless it is determined that the meeting, or a portion of the meeting, will be closed in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).

10. Duration: The PNT Advisory Board is envisioned to be a continuing entity with biennial charter renewals.

11. Termination: The PNT Advisory Board shall terminate two years from the date of the filing of this Charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator.

12. Membership and Designation:

  1. The PNT Advisory Board shall consist of not more than 25 members who will serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs), although Representative members from critical industry sectors, academia, international organizations, or space-based PNT user application areas may also serve as deemed appropriate.
  2. The PNT Advisory Board will consist of constituent experts from outside of the U.S. Government nominated by the PNT EXCOM Federal agencies listed above, approved by the PNT EXCOM Co-Chairs, and appointed by the NASA Administrator.
  3. PNT Advisory Board members shall be appointed so as to ensure a balanced representation in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. Diversity and sector representation will be considered as well.
  4. PNT Advisory Board members will be appointed for a two-year term, renewable at the discretion of the NASA Administrator.
  5. PNT Advisory Board members will not be compensated for their services, but will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as allowed by 5 U.S.C. 5701 et seq. and the FACA as amended.
  6. The PNT EXCOM may maintain a list of approved PNT Advisory Board nominees to fill vacancies and to enable rotation of new members onto the PNT Advisory Board at the discretion of the PNT EXCOM Co-Chairs and NASA Administrator.
  7. Any PNT Advisory Board member rotations shall not exceed six members in any one-year period to ensure a core institutional membership is maintained so as to ensure ongoing PNT Advisory Board work is not adversely affected.
  8. The NASA Administrator, in consultation with the PNT EXCOM Co-Chairs, will approve the PNT Advisory Board Chair and Vice Chair(s), as appropriate.

13. Committees, Subcommittees, and Task Forces: NASA will authorize establishment of committees, subcommittees, and/or task forces to conduct special studies as assigned to organize work and complete taskings. Consultants with special expertise may also be designated to assist subordinate groups on an ad hoc basis. Such committees, subcommittees, and/or task forces will report their findings and recommendations to the PNT EXCOM through the PNT Advisory Board Chair or Vice-Chair. Information classified for national security reasons may be provided to appropriately cleared members of the PNT Advisory Board to support the mission of the PNT EXCOM.

14. Recordkeeping: The records of the PNT Advisory Board, its committees, subcommittees, and/or task forces, shall be handled in accordance with the General Records Schedules 26, Item 2, or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552.

15. Filing Date: Since the PNT Advisory Board is a Presidential advisory committee, this Charter shall become effective upon its filing with the Committee Management Secretariat of the U.S. General Services Administration. It shall terminate two years from the date of filing of this Charter unless renewed or terminated earlier by the NASA Administrator.

/signature/
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

May 17, 2011
Date

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