Free Galileo GNSS Service Raises Commercial Market Worries, Trimble Says

Trimble is bringing its concerns about the Galileo global navigation satellite system (GNSS) to the FCC. In a docket 17-16 ex parte filing Friday, Trimble submitted its filing to the European GNSS Agency (GSA) in which it said the proposed free high-accuracy service to be provided as part of Galileo's GNSS service represents "a significant disruption" of the commercial market for providing precise point positioning services. Trimble told GSA it needs to consider whether such a service would be consistent with existing European Union (EU) and member state treaty obligations. It also said provision of free service under government sponsorship raises multilateral trade agreement questions, with the FCC in its 1997 order on allowing non-U.S. licensed satellites to provide service domestically having highlighted the importance of competition. Trimble also said there could be a disruption of U.S./EU reciprocity in GNSS, since the U.S.' 2010 national space policy also seeks promotion of a commercial space industry. Trimble said EU Galileo authorities should start consultations with U.S. GPS authorities under the U.S./EU 2004 agreement on Galileo and GPS use.