GPS Innovation Alliance

“James a. Kirkland and anne m. Ciganer- business relationship; andrew r. Etkind and scott burgett -- business relationship; mark n. Lewellen and mark l. Rentz -- business relationship.”

“The alliance delegated management duties to management companies, mike international, llc, and heather mcnatt hennessey, llc during the first four months of 2018. Mike international was paid $50,000 and heather mcnatt hennessey was paid $33,332 during this time period to handle day-to-day operations of the association; coordinate and correspond with vendors and others; maintain the books and records of the organization; and perform other duties as directed by the executive committee of the board of directors and the association's officers. On may 1, 2018, the alliance hired j. David grossman as an employee with the title of executive director. The executive director performs all of the duties incident to the office of a chief operations officer of a trade association. Mike international, llc continued to provide day-to-day operational services to the alliance between may 1 and december 31, 2018 and received compensation of $100,000 during this time period.”

“The organization's bylaws provide for two classes of members: principal members and regular members. All members of the organization are corporations (or other business entities) rather than individuals.”

“The organization's bylaws provide for two classes of members: principal members and regular members. Each principal member names two individuals as members of the organization's board of directors.”

“When the alliance takes action that requires the approval of both the members and the board under the governance documents (e.g., amendment of the articles of incorporation), evidence of approval of both the members and the board of directors is required.”

“Form 990 is prepared by the alliance's accountant in consultation with the alliance's executive director and then circulated to the alliance's officers (each of whom is a member of the alliance's board of directors) for review.”

“The alliance bylaws provide that any member may recuse himself from participation in any specific alliance activities and/or issue in which a conflict of interest arises. In addition, the board of directors is small and members work closely together and would be aware of many conflicts of interest. The board of directors, upon information known to it by any source, may also require recusal on specific issues or specific activities by any member. We have never had an instance where such conflicts have been identified or recusal has been required.”

“Members of the board of directors and officers of the organization serve without compensation. The organization had engaged two independent contractors through april 30, 2018, to provide the services of executive director. (see response to part vi-a, line 3 in schedule o.) effective may 1, 2018, the organization hired an employee for the executive director position. The executive committee of the organization, each of whose members is a director of the organization, reviewed and approved the compensation of all executive and managing directors in 2018, based on a review of compensation data for comparable organizations and documented these deliberations.”

“The alliance makes available to the public upon request its federal tax exemption application on irs form 1024 and its three most recent annual information returns on irs form 990, which documents include the alliance's articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements.”

“Between meetings of the board of directors, the executive committee shall govern the activities of the alliance, subject to limitations explicitly imposed by governing law, the articles of incorporation, the bylaws or directives the executive committee may received from the board of directors from time to time.”

“A second source of concern over interference to gps signals in the international arena arises from japan's imes system, which can provide indoor location capabilities by using a series of repeater transmitters. Originally devised as a limited system for controlled indoor applications only within japan, information from japan indicated the possibility of efforts to expand qzss applications to outdoor applications, as well as into markets outside of japan. We have continued our approaches to japanese governmental authorities and contacts in the japanese gps industry to provide assistance in resolving the potential conflict areas. We saw some progress in this area as the japanese authorities appear to have gained insights into the limitations of their current approach and are working to find technical solutions to moving the imes signals further away from current gps signals, and possibly even out of the radionavigation spectrum bands entirely. Gpsia continues to provide information and guidance on this issue in response to requests from both the us government and appropriate authorities within the government of japan. There were also several issues raised during meetings of various committees of the international telecommunications union (itu) that had the potential to affect gps. These issues included potential interference sources to gps. Working in conjunction with us government and industry delegates to itu working group and other meetings we were able to review the proposals and provide constructive input to help guide discussion and decision making. These included monitoring and participating in the preparations for wrc-2019 and the work in two itu sub-groups: working party 7c - metservices- (eess {earth exploration satellite service} interference into gnss) and working party 4c - efficient orbit/spectrum utilization for mss and rdss. In japan, the passage of the new space basic law and establishment of the new office of national space policy has placed the japanese satellite navigation program qzss -- as an essential program for national infrastructure as well as for national security in japan. As a result, qzss was given a boost in importance and acceleration of schedule, as well as reinvigorated funding levels. We are continue to work closely with japanese authorities to synchronize visions for qzss/gps compatibility and coordination in the years ahead, and with the development of future qzss satellites. There is also an emerging vision at the goj policy level for an enlarged and enhanced qzss-type system, which again would be coordinated with gps interests. Further activities included: - participated in and helped plan and organize the annual munich satellite navigation summit conference, hosted by the technical university of the german military, in muncih, germany. - worked with the us state department sponsored international committee on gnss (icg) to provide background information on technical characteristics of commercial gps receivers and overall market information. - arranged for private meetings with key japanese political leaders to consult on formation of new office of national space policy under the cabinet office to oversee and direct coordinated overall japanese space policy, including japanese satellite navigation project, qzss, which works in conjunction with gps. - conducted a series of meetings with senior level japanese government officials to provide background information on gps technical requirements and operational sensitivities in order to help guide japanese initiatives with the us and other nations to provide coordinated supplements to gps via qzss. - tracked the evolution and continuing reorganization of responsibilities of the european authorities overseeing the galileo program. Kept abreast of the changing responsibilities and personnel of the european commission, european space agency and the gnss supervisory authority. - gpsia continues to play an active role in the civil g.p.s. Service int”

“Public relations/other consultancy(see also part vii-b) 411,402. Payroll processing fees 6,000.”