www.fgdc.gov (version 10-26-18)

Source: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, P.L. 115-254 Section by Section Summary

GEOSPATIAL DATA ACT OF 2018 

Section by Section Summary

(FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 [P.L. 115-254], Subtitle F – Geospatial Data)

Section 751. Short Title; Findings

This section establishes the short title of this subtitle as the “Geospatial Data Act of 2018” and

makes findings.

Section 752. Definitions

This section defines the terms used in this subtitle.

Section 753. Federal Geographic Data Committee

This section codifies the continuation of an existing federal interagency committee, the Federal

Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), established under OMB Circular A-16. The FGDC is the primary 

entity for developing, implementing, and reviewing the policies, practices, and standards relating to 

geospatial data according to the guidelines and requirements issued by OMB. This section states that 

the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Director of Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) shall serve as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the committee, respectively, requires that the 

FGDC make available the annual summaries and evaluations of covered agency performance to the 

National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), and sets additional reporting requirements.

Section 754. National Geospatial Advisory Committee

This section codifies the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) and includes language

specifying that the NGAC would be administered in DOI. Similar to its current charge, the NGAC

will continue providing advice and recommendations to the chairperson of the FGDC relating to the 

management of federal and national geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data 

Infrastructure (NSDI), and other activities relating to the implementation of this subtitle. The NGAC is 

also required to review and comment on geospatial policy and management issues and ensure that the 

views of representatives of non-federal interested parties involved in national geospatial activities are 

conveyed to the FGDC.

Section 755. National Spatial Data Infrastructure

This section defines NSDI as “the technology, policies, criteria, standards, and employees necessary to 

promote geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal Government, State, tribal, and local 

governments, and the private sector (including nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher 

education).” This section establishes goals of the NSDI and mandates that FGDC prepare and maintain a 

strategic plan.

Section 756. NGDA Data Themes

This section requires the FGDC to designate for management by federal agencies NGDA data

themes, which are primary topics and subjects such as elevation, federal land ownership, vegetation, or 

marine boundaries, for which the coordinated development, maintenance, and dissemination of 

geospatial data would benefit the federal government and people of the United States.
www.fgdc.gov (version 10-26-18)

Source: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, P.L. 115-254 Section by Section Summary

Section 757. Geospatial Data Standards

This section requires the FGDC to establish standards for each of the NGDA data themes, including rules, 

conditions, guidelines, and characteristics, and also establishes content standards for metadata. These 

standards are required to be consistent with international standards to the maximum extent practicable 

and be periodically reviewed and updated. At the request of DOD and the intelligence community, this 

section also contains an exclusion from public disclosure of any information that could reasonably be 

expected to cause damage to the national interest, security, or defense of the nation, including 

information relating to geospatial intelligence data activities, as determined in consultation with the 

Director of National Intelligence.

Section 758. GeoPlatform

This section directs the FGDC to operate an electronic service providing public access to geospatial data 

and metadata to be known as the GeoPlatform (many refer to this as the geospatial data 

“clearinghouse”). The GeoPlatform is required to be made available through the Internet, be accessible 

through a common interface, include metadata for all geospatial data collected, directly or indirectly, by 

covered agencies, and include a set of programming instructions and standards that would provide an 

automated means of accessing geospatial data. Additionally, this section prohibits the GeoPlatform from 

storing or serving proprietary information or data acquired under a license by the federal government, 

unless authorized by the data provider.

Section 759. Covered Agency Responsibilities

This section establishes the responsibilities and reporting requirements for each covered agency under 

this subtitle. This section requires the Inspector General of each covered agency (or the senior ethics 

official of a covered agency without an Inspector General), to submit to Congress an audit not less than 

once every two years of the collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, distribution, use, and 

preservation of geospatial data by the covered agency.

Section 759A. Limitation on Use of Federal Funds

This section prohibits the use of federal funds by a covered agency for the collection, production, 

acquisition, maintenance, or dissemination of geospatial data that does not comply with applicable 

standards established under Section 757, as determined by the FGDC. The prohibition under this section 

will be effective five years from the date on which standards for each NGDA theme are established by 

the FGDC.

Section 759B. Savings provision

This section establishes a savings provision for the subtitle and states that “Nothing in this subtitle shall 

repeal, amend, or supersede any existing law unless specifically provided in this subtitle.”

Section 759C. Private sector

This section authorizes the FGDC and each covered agency to rely upon and use the private sector in the 

U.S. for the provision of geospatial data and services, to the maximum extent practical.