CIA, Pentagon trying to hinder construction of GLONASS stations in US

 A conflict between US State Dept (who want to make nice) and CIA/DoD responsible for our security. After the Russians gave Snowden sanctuary, I don't see how we can let them enhance their SATNAV system GLONASS with a monitoring station on our soil.  Brazil has already gotten one.

Russia Building Out GLONASS Monitoring Network, Augmentation System


Apparently the people who make the decision are:

 National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board

The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board provides independent advice to the U.S. government on GPS-related policy, planning, program management, and funding profiles in relation to the current state of national and international satellite navigation services.

Russians can't be blamed for protecting sovereignty by Glonass

Should Russia be Allowed to Install GLONASS Monitor Stations on U.S. Soil?

The gist of the debate reported by the NYT is that the accuracy of GNSS systems depends on reference stations around the globe that detect even slight changes in each satellite's orbit so data can be corrected and measurements kept extremely accurate.  Russia wants to emplace some of these reference, or monitor, stations on U.S. territory.  The NYT story says the State Department wants to permit Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, to build monitor stations here to "help mend the Obama administration's relationship with the government of President Vladimir V. Putin, now at a nadir" after Russia gave asylum to Edward Snowden.  The story continues that the CIA and the Defense Department "are waging a campaign" to stop it for fear it will give Russia "a foothold on American territory that would sharpen the accuracy of Moscow's satellite-steered weapons" and "give the Russians an opening to snoop on the United States within its borders."   It quotes the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), as wondering "why the United States would be interested in enabling a GPS competitor, like Russian Glonass [sic], when the world's reliance on GPS is a clear advantage to the United States on multiple levels."



CIA, Pentagon trying to hinder construction of GLONASS stations in US

The Pentagon argues that if the State Department sanctions the GLONASS station deployments, Russia might be able to increase the accuracy of its guided missiles and could also use them for intelligence activity from inside US borders. The arguments have prompted the White House to postpone decision-making on the issue until Russia provides further information, according to anonymous sources in the US Administration and Department of State.

Spy fears: CIA, Pentagon ‘work against’ Russia building GLONASS station in US

US intelligence and military are pressing the State Department not to license construction of monitor stations for Russia’s GLONASS navigation system on US territory, media reveals. The stations reportedly spark fears of spying opportunities. Moscow sent a request to build monitor stations for GLONASS, a Russian satellite system similar to GPS, on US territory in May 2012.

A Russian GPS using US soil stirs spy fears

 In recent months, the CIA and the Pentagon have been quietly waging a campaign to stop the State Department from allowing Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to build about half a dozen of these structures, known as monitor stations, on US soil, several US officials said.