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qqqCOMMI'rrEE ON ARMED SERVICES

m.~. f!Jous't of l\epresentatibes[[l,15bingtOll, 13([ 20515-6035

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

September 18, 2015

The Honorable Tom WheelerChairmanFederal Communications Commission445 12th Street, SWWashington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

A AM 5MlT " WA5Hlr1GTON, A/ti .• tNG ME\1BEHLORET rA SA:<CHF.Z. CALlFOR~MRODERT A. BRADY. PEN '5Yl .\MASUSAN A. DAVIS. CALIFORNIAJAI\fES R. LANGEVIN, RHODf i:)L.-v".lDHICK LARSEN. VI,IASHll'IJ!.',TOr-..JJ:~1 .:OOfER, TEN/-.jESSE::MAOELE1I'IE Z. BORtJAlLO. GUAMJOE COLRTNEY. CON'J'FCTlCUTN1K! TSONGAS. MASS .•••ou.srrrs..JOHN (jJ\HAMENDI. CI\Ur.ORNIAHEi\RY (. ··!iANI-." JOH '$:)1\0 J:" ';i:ORlilAJACKH; SPElEH. AUFUHNlAJOAQU!N CASTRO, TEXASTAMMY DUCKWOR-ti. Ill. ~OlSscorr H. PETE~S. CAUFORNIAMARC ll". VEA EY TEXASTl~LS! .AB6Ak:>, HAWAIlTIMOTIIY.1. WAlZ. MU'4]'\;C50Tl'1HElu (J'fmUHKE, TEXASOo;:AlD NORCROSS. MW JERSEYReBEN GAllEGO. AR ZC!.JAMARK TAKA!. HAWAIIG·WEN (jR~\I1A!',1, FLORIDAORAD ASHFORD. NFBRI\$KJ\SETH MOl JlTQ\l. MA!:)SAC •..•US!:TfSPE"l F AGutLAR, CAliFORNIA

As we're sure you will agree, it is the paramount obligation of the federal government toprovide for the common defense. It is in that vein that we write to share with you our objectionsto proposals under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to permitthe "E911" emergency response system to use the Russian Federation's GLONASSsystem. From our positions as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee onStrategic Forces, we have serious concerns about this proposal and the threat it poses to U.S.national security.

As you may know, one of us wrote to the Secretary of Defense and the Director ofNational Intelligence (DNI) on January 21,2015, sharing concerns regarding this proposal andasking a series of questions. We have recently received the classified response of the DNIstating his position on the proposal. Having reviewed that response and the detailed analysisprovided by the DNI, we write today to ask that the Commission end its consideration of anyproposal that would create reliance on the undependable GLONASS system or dependency onany system in the control of the kleptocracy run by Russia's Vladimir Putin. We urge you toobtain the Director's classified response and ensure that the full Commission is briefed on it andother related classified threat briefings.

Further, we request that you immediately direct the FCC (together with the Departmentof Defense and the Director of National Intelligence) to investigate (including through hardwareand software testing) whether there is an alternative technological approach that would achievesimilar improvements to emergency response efforts but that would not create the same risks asrelying on the Russian Federation or GLONASS. We ask that the Commission also evaluatewhether it should promulgate a policy to ensure that future generations of personal

Chairman WheelerSeptember 10, 2015Page 2

communications devices do not include GLONASS chip sets or other technology from otherlikely adversaries.

You have likely seen press reports on the "hack" by the Russian Federation on theunclassified networks ofthe U.S. military's Joint Staff. We ask that you consider what messagewould be sent by the FCC agreeing to rely on the Russian GLONASS system after suchactions. Surely, you agree that the FCC cannot allow itself to be used to undermine U.S. foreignpolicy with respect to Putin's Russia, nor should it create new national security vulnerabilities orrisks that play into that country's hands.

CooperRanking MemberStrategic Forces Subcommittee

Mike RogersChairmanStrategic Forces Subcommittee

CC: Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, Federal Communications CommissionCommissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Federal Communications CommissionCommissioner Ajit Pai, Federal Communications CommissionCommissioner Michael O'Rielly, Federal Communications CommissionAssistant Secretary Lawrence E. Strickling, National Telecommunications & InformationAdministrationThe Honorable Ashton Carter, Secretary of DefenseGeneral James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence