AGC has joined an industry group called the “Coalition to Save Our GPS,” which was organized to protect existing GPS receivers from the possibility of interference from the development of a strong signaled wireless broadband system being established by a  company called  LightSquared. LightSquared has petitioned and received a conditional permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand use of the Mobile Satellite Spectrum (MSS) immediately adjacent to GPS spectrum. The Coalition was formed because studies have shown that the LightSquared system can cause severe interference with millions of GPS receivers currently in use.

Contact with Your Congressional Delegation Needed Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Cal.) informed AGC and other transportation and construction stakeholder groups that she is continuing to meet with EPW Committee Ranking Member Sen. Jim Inhofe (Okla.) to write a transportation reauthorization bill that will have bipartisan support.

The two U.S. senators from Illinois are pushing opposing agendas regarding public private partnerships to finance construction of highways, bridges, airports, railroads and other transportation facilities.

AGC participated in a meeting June 23 with Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) who called together transportation and construction industry groups to lay out a very ambitous plan for release of a Committee draft bill, at least one hearing and Senate consideration of surface transportation reauthorization legislation before the end of July.

The House introduced the 20th short-term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration authorization.  The legislation, H.R. 2279, must be considered by the House by tomorrow afternoon because the House is not in session next week and the current extension expires June 30, 2011.  This extension would extend Airport and Airway Trust Fund taxes and Airport Improvement Program contract authority through July 22, 2011. 

On Wednesday, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on a draft bill that would improve the nation’s intercity passenger rail system by leveraging private sector investment and increase competition along the Northeast Corridor. The bill has the potential to create new jobs in rail construction, operation, and station-related development.

On Wednesday, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Bill Schuster (R-Penn.) unveiled a plan for privatizing Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor away from the federally-owned passenger railroad. The route runs from Washington, D.C., to Boston. 

AGC submitted a second set of comments to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) on its proposal to alter the truck driver Hours-of-Service regulations.  AGC’s comments addressed new studies the FMCSA placed in the public docket to support its effort to change the rules.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has indicated they may be prepared to release their highway portion of the Surface Transportation authorization bill as early as this week. 

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the comment period to June 8 on its proposed revisions to the truck driver hours of service regulations to allow for comment on four new studies related to driver fatigue. AGC is reviewing the studies and will supplement the comments AGC has already submitted on the proposed rule change.  FMCSA’s proposed rule suggests the following changes: