Broadband Breakfast on May 28, 2025 – Understanding Global Positioning
What challenges and opportunities do alternatives to GPS present? What might a more diversified PNT landscape look like in practice?
GPS is vital to nearly every aspect of modern life—from national security and public safety to our economy and critical infrastructure. But “while GPS may be indispensable, it is not infallible.” The Federal Communications Commission has launched an inquiry into Positioning, Navigation, and Timing technologies that could complement or serve as a backup to the Global Positioning System. Join us as we explore the goals of the FCC’s inquiry, the potential of emerging PNT systems – including both terrestrial and space-based technologies – and the perspectives of key stakeholders in government and industry. What challenges and opportunities do alternatives to GPS present? What might a more diversified PNT landscape look like in practice?
Broadband Breakfast
Panelists
- Ed Mortimer, Vice President, Government Affairs, NextNav
- Tanner Cheek, VP of Sales, Safran
- Rohit Braggs, Vice President of PNT, Iridium
- Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast
Ed Mortimer serves as Vice President of Government Affairs at NextNav, where he leads engagement with government officials, agencies, and industry associations. As a principal advocate for developing terrestrial complement and backup systems to GPS, Ed educates policymakers—particularly on Capitol Hill—about the critical importance of resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies using 5G Broadband Spectrum. With over 30 years of experience, Ed has built a distinguished career at the intersection of public and private sectors, demonstrating expertise in government affairs within the technology and infrastructure domains.
Tanner Cheek is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Safran Electronics & Defense. He leads strategic efforts in Advanced Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) systems. Tanner is a U.S. Army veteran with experience as a user in secure GPS as well as an industry expert specializing in GNSS and resilient PNT solutions.
Rohit Braggs serves as Vice President of Positioning, Navigation & Timing (PNT) for Iridium. In his role, he direct Iridium’s commercial PNT strategy and execution amid growing demand for resilient alternatives to GPS and GNSS, specifically Iridium Satellite Time and Location® (Iridium STL®). “Rohit is one of the world’s foremost experts in PNT and has long been an advocate of the unique benefits of Iridium STL,” said Dr. Michael O’Connor, Executive Vice President of PNT at Iridium.
Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.
Member discussion